Antioxidant activity of fungi isolated from soil of different areas of Punjab,India

The study was carried outto investigate the antioxidant activity of fungi isolated from soil of different areas of Punjab, India and compare their efficiency with a known antioxidant, ascorbic acid. The antioxidant potential of fungal extracts was quantified by DPPH and reducing power assay. Total phenolic contents were estimated using Folins-Ciocalteau (FC) reagent. Out of 113 fungal isolates selected, 51 were having antioxidant potential and these were further assayed quantitatively. All of these showed good activity against DPPH radical while 32 of these isolates demonstrated reducing potential also. In addition, some were equally good as ascorbic acid. The present study demonstrated potential of soil fungi to have antioxidant activity similar to plants and mushrooms. High phenolic content of fungi further highlight their significance as new sources of natural antioxidants. These fungi may provide easier set up for production and purification of natural antioxidants as compared to higher plants