ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF ROMANIAN AGARICUS BLAZEI MURRILL. AND AGARICUS BISPORUS J. E. LANGE MUSHROOMS

Mushrooms are widely used in therapeutics, due to their various biological effects. The aim of our paper was the assessment of the chemical composition and the assessment of the antioxidant activity of Agaricus bisporus (wild-growing and cultivated) and Agaricus blazei (cultivated) mushrooms. Phytochemical screening was determined by means of spectrophotometric, spectrometric, and X-ray diffraction methods. Antioxidant activity was assessed by scavenger activity towards DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (+) (2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) free radicals, ferric reducing power and ferrous ions chelating properties. Wild-growing Agaricus bisporus and Agaricus blazei have a similar total phenolic content. The highest calcium (1783.14 mg/kg), potassium (99580.08 mg/kg) and magnesium (1070.79 mg/kg) concentrations were found for wild-growing Agaricus bisporus. Cultivated Agaricus bisporus had a weak antioxidant capacity. All analysed mushrooms are a source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity.