Peptides obtained from edible mushrooms: Hericium erinaceus offers the ability to scavenge free radicals and induce apoptosis in lung cancer cells in humans.

This research examined the antioxidant abilities of peptides derived from the Hericium erinaceus mushroom produced via three microbial proteases (Alcalase®, Neutrase®, and Flavourzyme®) at varying concentrations of 10, 25, and 50 mg mL-1. The H. erinaceus mushroom hydrolysate produced from 10 mg mL-1 Alcalase® with 4 hours' digestion resulted in the highest levels of 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazl (DPPH), and nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging activities.