Abstract

Fusarium venenatum has been utilized as a mycoprotein source for human consumption in many countries for over a decade because of the rich source of high quality protein including essential amino acids and less fat. In the present study, anti oxidative and anticancer properties of biomass extract of Fusarium venenatum was studied. Biomass was obtained from Fusarium venenatum grown in Vogel’s minerals medium and the biomass thus obtained was purified, extracted with distilled water and ethanol. The water and ethanol extracts thus prepared wereevaluated for anti oxidative activity with DPPH radical scavenging activity whereasthe antitumour activity was studied with Hep 2 cell line adopting MTT assay. Cytotoxic effect of both the extracts on vero cell line and human peripheral blood cells was also studied. Maximum free radical scavenging activity was recorded in 1000 μg/ml concentration of ethanol extract. The anti tumor activity against HEP2 cell lines by MTT assay reveals 1000 μg/ml concentration inhibited maximum viability followed by 800 μg/ml. In the case of vero cell lines viability was not affected at all tested concentrations The effect of extracts was studied over the human peripheral blood RBC in which the lysis, reduction and changes in morphology of blood cells was not recorded in any concentration. The study demonstrates the possible use ofFusarium venenatum biomass as the therapeutic agent associated with protein food supplement.

Key words: Mycoprotein, Fusarium venenatum, anti oxidant, anti cancer, biomass.