QCAR models to predict wild mushrooms radical scavenging activity, reducing power and lipid peroxidation inhibition

Wild mushrooms have become attractive as a source of physiologically beneficial compounds including antioxidants such as phenolic compounds and tocopherols. The concentrations of antioxidant compounds (phenolics and α-tocopherol) and EC50 values of antioxidant activity (concentration required to achieve 50% of radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation inhibition, or 0.5 of absorbance in reducing power) were analyzed by partial least square (PLS) regression analysis. Three QCAR (Quantitative Composition-Activity Relationship) models were constructed and their robustness and predictability were verified by internal and external cross-validation methods. Antioxidant activity correlated well with phenolics and α-tocopherol contents, the major antioxidants in wild mushrooms. The models proved to be useful tools in the prediction of mushrooms radical scavenging activity, reducing power and lipid peroxidation inhibition.

► QCAR models were elaborated to predict mushrooms antioxidant activity. ► Phenolics and α-tocopherols provide the best correlations. ► Internal and external validations confirm the predictive power of the models.