ABSTRACT
Objective: To bioprospect optimal phenological phases as source of novel molecules from native golden yellow Pleurotus citrinopileatus across four phenologies in both aqueous and ethanol extracts, and identify novel molecules responsible for these activities. Methods: Standard qualitative assay, Folin-Ciocalteu assay; aluminium chloride spectrophotometric, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2, 2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-suslfonic acid, ferricyanide reducing antioxidant power were used to determine total flavonoid, polyphenols, radical scavenging, and reducing power. Spectrophotometric methods were used for lycopene, β-carotene, and total carotenoids, while liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry was used for identification and comparative quantitation of polyphenols and flavonoids across the four phenological states. ChemSpider™ database was used for the identification of compounds based on their empirical formula, accurate mass and literature review of previously reported compounds in mushroom. Results: Primordial phases exhibited higher contents of secondary metabolites than mature basidiocarps. Polyphenols content differed across physiological phases with primordials exhibiting significant high contents (P < 0.05) [(13.803 ± 0.797) mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight]. Distribution of total flavonoids was significantly different (P < 0.05) across physiological states and ranged from (3.311 ± 0.730) to (14.824 ± 0.890) mg quercetin equivalent g dry weight. Ten polyphenol acids and seven flavonoids compounds identified varied across these phases with primordials exhibiting relatively high peak areas. Total antioxidant activities showed a positive correlation with total polyphenols (r. =. 0.969; P < 0.05) and total flavonoids (r. =. 0.960; P < 0.05) across these phenologies. Conclusions: These findings provide evidence that primordials of golden yellow mushroom as opposed to their fruiting bodies are potent sources of bioactive health molecules.