Antioxidant activity
Several studies have been done to evaluate the antioxidant potential
of various parts of Ganoderma Lucidum including the fruiting body;
mycelia and crude extracts obtained using different solvents. The
methanolic extract as well as aqueous extracts have shown remarkable
free radical scavenging activity. Both these extracts were able to
scavenge the superoxide free radicals, hydroxyl radicals and also inhibit
the lipid peroxidation (Jones S and Janardhanan KK, 2000).
Using different models of antioxidant activity assay, Alcoholic, Aqueous
alcoholic, Petroleum ether and chloroform extracts of Ganoderma
extract were assayed for the antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity
was determined to be highest in hot water extract followed by
aqueous alcoholic extract. The Petroleum ether extract was found to
be least effective in scavenging the free radicals in any of the models
of Antioxidant assays such as DPPH radical, ABTS radical, Superoxide
radical scavenging assay. (Agarwal K et al 2012).