Antioxidant Profile of Selected Herbs in Comparison to Mushrooms

Mushrooms are gaining importance on account of the term medicinal properties. The use of mushrooms as antioxidants owing to their profile viz., polysaccharides, lectins, isothiocynates, protein, vitamins, minerals etc. is becoming more popular. The antioxidants of certain herbs have also received wide recognition. Therefore, the present study attempts to evaluate the antioxidant profile of two mushrooms viz., Calocybe indica and Agaricus bisporus in relation to certain herbs. The study includes the assessment of antioxidant enzymes catalase, peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, ascorbate oxidase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, reduced glutathione and vitamin C. The levels of antioxidant enzymes and reduced glutathione were found to be highest in mushroom samples in comparison to studied herbs. Among the herbs Cymbopagon citrates exhibited the highest levels of vitamin C in comparison to mushrooms. The overall study revealed substantial levels of antioxidants in mushrooms in comparison with studied herbs.