In this study we evaluated the antioxidant capacity, antimicrobial activity, and cytotoxicity of an aqueous extract of the Pleurotus ostreatoroseus mushroom, which was cooked. Fresh basidiocarps were heated and steamed at 100°C and the resulting aqueous extract was assessed before and after in vitro digestion. Cooking reduced the amounts of phenolic compounds in the extract. The antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated through the use of 4 methods. The lowest half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) against ABTS radicals was 0.057 ± 0.002 mg/mL for the uncooked basidiocarp extract. Cooking and the digestive process led to decreased activity (P > 0.05) against ABTS and DPPH radicals. A significant increase in chelating activity (P > 0.05) occurred after the basidiocarps were cooked (EC50 = 0.279 ± 0.007 mg/mL). The reducing power did not significantly change among the different extracts. The uncooked basidiocarp extract was cytotoxic to Vero cells. After cooking and subsequent in vitro digestion, the cytotoxicity of the extracts decreased (P < 0.05). Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans were sensitive to the fresh mushroom extract. The data showed that after being cooked and digested, the P. ostreatoroseus mushroom maintains antioxidant activity and has a low cytotoxic effect.
The study evaluated the production of proteases in solid-state fermentation using wheat bran as a substrate. The best producing isolates were used to obtain crude extract which was evaluated for optimal pH and temperature, thermostability, effect of salts and activity against inhibitors. The studied fungi were Aspergillus sp. 125, Fusarium sp. 132, Fusarium sp. 206, Pleurotus albidus 018 and Pleurotus pulmonarius CCB20. The isolates with better results (Aspergillus sp. and P. albidus), showed protease activity with an optimum pH of 7.0, and an optimum temperature of 50ºC with good thermostability between 40 and 50ºC. As for salts, the protease activity was inhibited in the presence of ZnSO4, and the activity of the proteases from the crude Aspergillus extract, strongly inhibited by PMSF, indicating the presence of a fraction of serine protease in the extract. The extracts of the two selected isolates showed considerable inhibition by EDTA. The milk clotting activity was 240 U mL-1 for the Aspergillus extract and 153 U mL-1 for the crude P. albidus extract. Proteases are important enzymes widely used in the food industry, including cheese. The data suggest that these fungi have the potential to produce these enzymes for usage in cheese making
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