Abstract:
The growing demand for natural therapeutic compounds has intensified the search for
bioactive molecules with diverse therapeutic properties, including antioxidant and
anticoagulant activities. Calocybe indica (milky mushroom), an edible mushroom
widely cultivated on a large scale in South Asia, is known for its richness in
phytochemicals. However, research on C. indica is relatively less, particularly
regarding its bioactivity and the majority of the studies were carried out on its nutrient
content. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate and compare the antioxidant
and anticoagulant activities of aqueous, methanol, dichloromethane (DCM), and
hexane extracts of C. indica fruiting bodies. Authenticated fruiting bodies of C. indica
were freeze-dried, cold macerated, and concentrated. Total phenolic content (TPC)
was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, while antioxidant activity was
measured using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay.
Among the extracts, the methanol and aqueous extracts exhibited the highest
antioxidant activity, with the lowest IC₅₀ values of 561.7 mg/mL and 549.8 mg/mL,
respectively, indicating strong free radical scavenging potential. These were followed
by the hexane (788.3 mg/mL) and DCM (961.6 mg/mL) extracts. A similar trend was
observed in TPC values, further confirming these activities, with the aqueous extract
showing the highest TPC (176.96 mg GAE/g), demonstrating a strong correlation
between phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Anticoagulant activity was
evaluated by measuring the prolongation of prothrombin time (PT). IBM-SPSS
version 26 was used for statistical analysis. The bar chart analysis indicated that all
four extracts, at varying concentrations, caused a significant increase in PT values
compared to the control, confirming anticoagulant potential. All extracts contributed
to prolonged coagulation time, highlighting the potential of C. indica as a natural
anticoagulant. This study highlights the promising antioxidant and anticoagulant
potential of C. indica, supported by its high phenolic content and ability to prolong
prothrombin time. These findings are consistent with previous studies that report the
therapeutic effects of mushroom-derived compounds such as polysaccharides and
phenolics. Further research is needed to isolate the active constituents and confirm
their efficacy and safety through in vivo studies. C. indica shows strong potential for
development as a natural therapeutic agent against oxidative stress and thrombotic
disorders
