IN VITRO EVALUATION OF HYPOLIPIDEMIC AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF SCHIZOPHYLLUM COMMUNE

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the in-vitro hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities of Schizophyllum commune. The mushroom was extracted using methanol and the obtained extract was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening to identify the major bioactive constituents. The antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging assay, which determines the free radical scavenging ability of the extract. The hypolipidemic potential was assessed by pancreatic lipase enzyme inhibition assay using p-nitrophenyl butyrate as the substrate. The methanolic extract exhibited concentration-dependent antioxidant activity, as evidenced by an increase in DPPH radical scavenging activity with increasing extract concentration. The extract also demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition of pancreatic lipase enzyme, indicating its potential to interfere with dietary lipid digestion. The observed activities may be attributed to the presence of bioactive constituents such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, polysaccharides and other secondary metabolites. Overall, the findings suggest that Schizophyllum commune may serve as a promising natural source of antioxidant and lipid-metabolism-related bioactive compounds. Further studies involving isolation of active constituents and in-vivo evaluation are required to establish its pharmacological potential.