In Vivo Antioxidant Activities of Thermomyces sp Pigment in Albino Mice

In the present study, In vivo antioxidant activity of fungal pigment extract of Thermomyces sp was evaluated in animal model using albino mice. The pigment extract was orally administrated at doses of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg for 30 days. The Enzymatic antioxidant such as Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) non enzymatic antioxidant Glutathione (GSH) was analyzed in kidney and liver tissues. The fungal pigment treated groups recorded higher antioxidant activity compare to control animals.

Fungal pigments were shown to display a high antioxidant activity under in vitro conditions. The fungal pigment isolated from Thermomyces sp fungi used as powerful antioxidant and natural colourant for food and fabrics. The induction of antioxidant enzymes and scavenging of free radicals may account for the mechanism of action of the extract as an antioxidant.