Antimicrobial properties, antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of ethanol-soluble acidic components from Ganoderma atrum

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of ethanol-soluble acidic components (ESAC) from Ganoderma atrum as a novel source against bacteria and oxidation in food industry. The qualitative analysis of ESAC was based on liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and eight ganoderic acids were identified in ESAC. Its total phenolic content of ESAC was 75.80 ± 5.67 mg/g. ESAC exhibited antimicrobial activity against all of the tested bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus subsp. Aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Proteusbacillus vulgaris), and exerted antioxidant activities by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, total reducing power and β-carotene bleaching assays. Moreover, ESAC (at concentrations of 0–100 μg/mL) did not show any cytotoxic effects in RAW264.7 murine macrophage cells. Our findings suggested that ESAC has the potential as a novel natural source for food industry, ganoderic acids and phenolic compounds may be related to its antimicrobial properties as well as antioxidant activities.