abstract
The effects of nitric oxide (NO) on antioxidant activity and contents of phenolics and flavonoids in mushroom Russula griseocarnosa were investigated. Freshly harvested mushrooms were fumigated with 0, 10, 20 and 30lLL 1 NO at 20 C for 2 h and then taken to examine the antioxidant activities using assays of reducing power, chelating effect on ferrous ions, scavenging effect on hydroxyl free radicals, and 2,2diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity. The results showed that the antioxidant activities ofthemushrooms fumigated withNOweresignificantlyincreasedwhencomparedtothecontrols. Moreover, NO fumigation significantly enhanced phenolic and flavonoid contents and stimulated the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and chalcone synthase. The results indicated that NO fumigation might have potential application for enhancing the bioactive compounds and improving antioxidant activities inthemushrooms.Furthermore,thedatasuggestedthattheNO-inducedphenolicandflavonoidaccumulation was due to the activation of the biosynthetic pathways in the mushrooms. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.