DPPH radical scavenging activity of ten natural p-terphenyl derivatives obtained from three edible mushrooms indigenous to China

The antioxidant activities of ten natural p-terphenyl derivatives, 1 - 10, obtained from the fruiting bodies of three edible mushrooms (Thelephora ganbajun, Thelephora aurantiotincta, Boletopsis grisea) indigenous to China were evaluated in comparison with BHA ('butylated hydroxyanisole' (1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methoxyphenol) and alpha-tocopherol by the DPPH ('1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl'=2,2-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)hydrazyl) radical-scavenging method. The compounds 1-3 showed significant antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activities of compounds 1-10 and reference compounds followed the order: 2>BHA>1>3>alpha-tocopherol >10>9>6>5>8>7>4. The compound 2 exhibited the strongest radical-scavenging activity with an EC50 value of 0.07 (EC50(BHA) 0.09; EC50(alpha-tocopherol) 0.25).