MAIN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ANTIOXIDANT COMPLEX OF HIGHER FUNGI. A REVIEW

This review systematizes scientific data on the antioxidant activity of components and preparations obtained from the mycelial biomass and fruiting bodies of various higher fungi. The paper highlights the chemical composition, antioxidant profile, and concentration of most antioxidants in fungal biomass. Various mechanisms of antioxidant action of biologically active substances in fungi are presented. Particular attention is paid to the description of substances exhibiting antioxidant activity—tocopherols, carotenoids, steroids, phenolic compounds, phenolic acids, tannins, lignans, stilbenes, and terpenes. It is shown that the composition of tocopherol homologues in some fungi is represented predominantly by the α- and β-forms, while in others, the γ- and δ-forms predominate. It has been established that the well-known β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, as well as specific canthaxanthin and cordixanthins, are responsible for the characteristic yellow-orange color of the fruiting bodies of a number of higher fungal species. When characterizing the steroid composition of higher fungi, the presence of ergosterol and its derivatives, campesterol, and brassicasterol is most often noted. Among the phenolic compounds of higher fungi, the most common are flavonoids and phenolic acids, as well as p-hydroxybenzoic, gentisic, gallic, p-coumaric, benzoic, cinnamic, fumaric, and ferulic acids, which determine antioxidant and other types of activity. About 300 terpenoids have been identified in fungi, the main ones being sesquiterpenes and triterpenes. Thus, most species of higher fungi, both those growing in natural habitats and those grown using biotechnological methods, contain biologically active substances with high antioxidant activity.