Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of A Novel Isomeric Molecule (PF5) Obtained from Methanolic Extract of Pleurotus Florida Mushroom

The Pleurotus florida is recognized as a medicinal and edible mushroom and the present study intends to reveal the active isomeric molecules from this mushroom. The P. florida was cultivated using different nutrient supplements: groundnut husk, maize powder, horse gram powder and coconut oil-cake powder. Horse gram supplement showed the higher mushroom yield and henceit was used for the cultivation of P. florida. Methanolic extract of P. florida was found to be efficient in antioxidant activity among ethanol, aqueous, ethyl acetate and hexane extracts. The bioactive fraction 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy cinnamic acid (PF5) was isolated and purified from the methanolic extract of P. florida by column chromatography, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrum (GC-MS) and further it was characterized by Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The PF5 was tested for its DPPH and reducing power assays, and the IC50 values were found to be 21.7 µg/mL and 105 µg/mL, respectively. We found that the cytotoxic effect of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy cinnamic acid was tested against the lung cancer cell line using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), sulphorodamine B (SRB) and trypan blue assays which exhibited a higher cytotoxic effect (CTC50, 645 µg/mL). These results suggested that 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy cinnamic acid from P. florida could be explored as a novel and potent natural antioxidant and cancer preventive agent, alternative to existing synthetic molecules.