Antioxidant Properties and Radioprotective Effects of Bioactive Extracts from <i>Pleurotus sajor-caju</i> on Yeast Cells against γ-rays

Exposure to ionizing radiation results in the generation of free radical, such as anion radicals, cation radicals, and neutral radicals, that can induce biological damage. In this report, we studied the antioxidant properties and radioprotective effects of extracts from Pleurotus sajor-caju on wild-type yeast cells. Phenolics and flavonoids are bioactive compounds, known as antioxidants, that have gained interest among researchers due to their benefits for human health. The total phenolic content (TPC) of the extracts was determined by Folin–Ciocalteu assay and the total flavonoid content (TFC) was determined by aluminum chloride assay. The antioxidant activities were determined by performing 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The radioprotective effects of the extracts on yeast cells exposed to γ-rays were evaluated based on the survival rate (SR) and mutation frequency. The percentage of surviving yeast cells increased while those undergoing mutation decreased after irradiation in the presence of extracts, indicating that bioactive compounds from the extract of P. sajor-caju can reduce the damage induced by γ-rays. Thus, bioactive compounds from the extracts of P. sajor-caju have the potential to minimize or ameliorate the effects of ionizing radiation.