Evaluation of morphological, phytochemical and biological activity of bracket fungi Cerrena unicolor collected from Arasbaran forests

Bracket fungi are the most important macroscopic fungi that play a main role in the ecosystem. In this study, the morphological characters of Cerrena unicolor were evaluated and then, the effect of different solvents (n-Hexan, Dichloromethane, Ethyl acetate, and Methanol) on the extraction of phenolic compounds, antioxidant properties, and cytotoxic activities of the extracts were investigated. Total phenol and flavonoid content, phenolic acid analysis, antioxidant properties, and cytotoxic activities on MCF-7 cells were evaluated by spectrophotometry, HPLC, DPPH, and MTT methods, respectively. The obtained results showed the basidiocarp was semicircular and wavy, and the upper surface was covered with small white to grayish brown hairs. Basidia were 25 µm in length, calvate and including 4 sterigmata with ellipsoid basidiospores. The results also indicated that the Methanolic extract had the highest total phenol and flavonoid contents compared with other extracts. Moreover,Benzoic acid, Protocatechuic acid, Gallic acid, and Cinnamic acid were the main phenolic acids of the Methanolic and Ethyl acetate extracts. In addition, the Methanolic extract showed the highest antioxidant activity in inhibiting DPPH radicals, while the Methanolic and Ethyl acetate extracts indicated the highest cytotoxic activity on MCF-7 cells. Therefore the Methanolic extract due to phenolic compounds could be proposed as a new sourceofnatural antioxidants with cytotoxic activity.