Quantification of Phenols, Flavonoids, and Sugars in Two Medicinal Fungi: Fomes fomentarius (L.) and Schizophyllum commune (Fr.)

АУТОР(И) / AUTHOR(S): Božović D. Jelena, Konatar R. Bojan, Trajković V. Dušan, Vemić M. Aleksandar, Radulović B. Zlatan, Živojinović Z. Dragana

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DOI:  10.46793/ICCBIKG25.545B

САЖЕТАК / ABSTRACT:

This study focuses on the chemical analysis of bioactive constituents in the fungi Fomes fomentarius (L.) and Schizophyllum commune (Fr.), with the aim of identifying and quantifying phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and total sugars as metabolites of significance in medicinal chemistry. Phenols and flavonoids are key factors in cellular protection against oxidative stress, which is crucial for the prevention and therapy of cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, the presence of sugars (polysaccharides, particularly β-glucans) additionally indicates the immunomodulatory and antitumor effects of these fungi. These chemical components act synergistically in protecting the organism from oxidative and inflammatory damage, thereby confirming their medicinal role in traditional medicine and modern therapies. In this research, fungal extracts were analysed using spectrophotometric methods to determine total phenols and flavonoids (Folin-Ciocalteu for phenols, AlCl₃ and quercetin procedure for flavonoids), as well as the phenol-sulfuric procedure for identifying the presence of sugars (polysaccharides). The analysis confirmed that both fungi contain significant amounts of phenols and flavonoids, demonstrating their potential application in the development of natural drugs and dietary supplements. Future research will focus on the identification of specific molecules of the bioactive components of these fungal species, providing a basis for further research in the field of medicinal chemistry and the pharmaceutical industry.

КЉУЧНЕ РЕЧИ / KEYWORDS:

medicinal fungi, phenols, flavonoids, polysaccharides, spectrometry determination

ПРОЈЕКАТ / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

This study was funded by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia (Contract No. 451-03-136/2025-03/200027, 451-03- 136/2025-03/200287 and 451-03-136/2025-03/200135)

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