In the present investigation, a number of antioxidant assay systems
were assessed in an attempt to elucidate the presence of
antioxidants produced in mycelial biomass using submerged liquid
cultivation. It was determined that the various antioxidants
produced in the mycelium were radical scavengers and primary
chain-breaking antioxidants. This investigation demonstrated that
depending on the process of extraction, different yields of antioxidant
compounds were recovered. Additionally, methanolic extracts
were typically more effective in antioxidant properties. It was concluded
that the overall antioxidant capacity of these filamentous
fungi was attributed mainly to their phenolic content. These species
of fungi show promising activity for further application. The
growth of G. frondosa, M. purpureus, Pleurotus spp., L. edodes and
T. versicolor using submerged cultivation proved to be a suitable
method for the production of natural antioxidants, which could
potentially be used for supplementation purposes, development
of nutraceuticals or to partially substitute synthetic antioxidants
which are currently used, such as BHT.