This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant potential, anticholinesterase activity, antiproliferative effects, and phenolic contents of optimized extracts derived from Pleurotus eryngii. Single-objective and multi-objective optimized extracts of P. eryngii were analyzed using antioxidant assays (TAS, TOS, DPPH, FRAP, and OSI), anticholinesterase activity (AChE and BChE inhibition), and antiproliferative activity against the A549 lung cancer cell line. Additionally, phenolic compositions were determined via LC-MS/MS analysis under optimized extraction conditions. The single-objective extract exhibited higher TAS values (7.212 ± 0.060 mmol/L) compared to the multi-extract (5.682 ± 0.054 mmol/L), while the multi-objective extract demonstrated higher TOS and OSI values. Both extracts showed significant anticholinesterase activities, with IC₅₀ values indicating stronger inhibition compared to previously reported studies. The single-objective extract displayed superior antiproliferative activity against A549 cells, and both extracts showed dose-dependent effects. LC-MS/MS analysis revealed that phenolic compounds such as gallic acid, caffeic acid, and protocatechuic acid were more abundant in the single-objective extract. The optimized extracts of P. eryngii demonstrated substantial antioxidant, anticholinesterase, and antiproliferative activities, with the single-objective extract showing enhanced bioactivity compared to the multi-objective extract. While P. eryngii presents a promising natural source of antioxidants and enzyme inhibitors, its relatively high oxidant production potential suggests that further toxicological evaluation is required to assess its safe use. Further studies are recommended to enhance extraction methods and explore molecular mechanisms underlying its therapeutic properties.
Gürgen et al. (2026) studied this question.