Antrodia salmonea is well known in Taiwan as a beneficial mushroom. In the present study, we investigated the
antioxidant activity of whole fermented broth (AS), filtrate (ASF), and mycelia (ASM) of A. salmonea using different
antioxidant models. Furthermore, the effect of A. salmonea on
AAPH-induced oxidative
hemolysis of human erythrocytes and CuSO4-induced oxidative modification of human
low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) was examined. We found that the AS, ASF, and ASM possess effective
antioxidant activity against various oxidative systems including
superoxide anion scavenging, reducing power,
metal chelation, and DPPH radical scavenging. Further,
AAPH-induced oxidative
hemolysis in erythrocytes was prevented by AS, ASF, and ASM. Notably, AS, ASF, and ASM appear to possess powerful
antioxidant activities against CuSO4-induced oxidative modification of
LDL as assessed by
malondialdehyde (MDA) formation,
cholesterol degradation, and the relative electrophoretic mobility of
oxidized LDL. It is noteworthy that AS had comparatively strong
antioxidant ability compared to ASF or ASM, which is well correlated with the content of their total
polyphenols. Thus, A. salmonea may exert
antioxidant properties and offer protection from
atherogenesis.