Ganoderma tsugae Murrill (Ganodermataceae) were available in the form of mature and baby Ling chih, mycelia and
fermentation filtrate. From these four forms, hot water extracts were prepared and their antioxidant properties were studied. Hot
water extracts from mature and baby Ling chih showed high antioxidant activities (78.5% and 78.2%) at 20 mg/ml, and had EC50
values of 7.25 and 5.89 mgextract/ml, respectively. EC50 values in reducing power were 1.12, 1.37, 2.48 and 1.41 mgextract/ml,
whereas those in scavenging abilities of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals were 0.30, 0.40, 0.72 and 5.00 mgextract/ml for Ling
chih, baby Ling chih, mycelia and filtrate, respectively. At 20 mg/ml, scavenging abilities on hydroxyl radicals were in the descending
order of Ling chih4baby Ling chih4mycelia4filtrate. Total phenols were the major naturally occurring antioxidant components
found in hot water extracts and in the range of 40.86–42.34 mg/g. From EC50 values obtained, fruit bodies of G. tsugae (Ling chih
and baby Ling chih) were good in antioxidant properties, except for the chelating ability on ferrous ions.
r 2004 Swiss Society of Food Science and Technology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
