Antioxidant Effect of Lenzites betulinus Mushroom (Agaricomycetes) Extract against Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced DNA Damage.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential antioxidative effect of the acetone and ethanol extracts from Lenzites betulinus mushroom against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of healthy individuals in vitro. Comet assay was used to investigate the level of DNA damage, expressed as the percentage of DNA damage (%DNA) and the genetic damage index (GDI), in treatment with mushroom extracts in different concentrations (50, 100, 150, and 200 μg/mL) on PBLs. The results showed that both mushroom extracts significantly dose dependently reduced the H2O2-induced %DNA damage and GDI (P < 0.0005) in lymphocytes of healthy individuals in comparison to the positive control. However, the acetone extract of tested mushroom showed lower %DNA damage and GDI than ethanol extract. Based on our results, we can conclude that acetone and ethanol extracts of L. betulinus possess protective effect against H2O2-induced DNA damage in PBLs, as well as that acetone extract provided a stronger genoprotective effect compared with the ethanol extract. This mushroom is suggested as a potential tool for reducing genome damage in healthy individuals and can be considered a valuable source of natural antioxidants, offering additional benefits and protection when used for therapeutic purposes.