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. 2025 Jan;90(1):e17619.
doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.17619.

Evaluating the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective potential of fruiting body and mycelium extracts from edible yellow morel (Morchella esculenta L. Pers.)

Rida Haider  1 , Luisa Agnello  2 , Shahid Masood Shah  1 , Muhammad Sufyan  3 , Nimra Khan  1 , Abdul Nazir  4 , Marcello Ciaccio  2   5 , Sidra Rehman  6
Affiliations

Evaluating the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective potential of fruiting body and mycelium extracts from edible yellow morel (Morchella esculenta L. Pers.)

Rida Haider et al. J Food Sci. 2025 Jan.

Abstract

Scope: This study aimed to assess the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and acetylcholinesterase activities of fruiting bodies (FB) and mycelium (M) extracts of Morchella esculenta L. collected from various regions of Pakistan. The samples included Skardu fruiting body (SKFB) and mycelia Skardu (SKM), Malam Jaba fruiting body (MJFB) and Malam Jaba mycelia (MJM), Krair Mansehra fruiting body (KMFB) and Krair Mansehra mycelia (KMM), and Thandiani fruiting body (TFB) and Thandiani mycelia (TM).

Methods and results: The IC50 values for free radical scavenging activity of all samples revealed that fruiting body SKFB and MJFB of M. esculenta are significantly involved in relieving oxidative stress. Bovine serum albumin conformation destruction assay showed a significantly increased anti-inflammatory activity of SKFB with an IC50 value of 10.94 ± 0.098 µg/mL. The human red blood cell protection assay showed that TFB has a lower EC50 value as compared to other samples. KMFB and KMM extracts of M. esculenta showed significantly higher anti-acetylcholinesterase activity compared to the standard drug, donepezil. The lower IC50 value of M. esculenta extracts suggested higher efficacy for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition. Enzyme kinetics results showed that KMFB of M. esculenta is a competitive inhibitor, while KMM and Donepezil are noncompetitive AChE inhibitors. Further, molecular docking, physicochemical properties and ADMET analysis of M. esculenta constituents showed smooth drug diffusion and protection against neurodegenerative disorders.

Conclusion: This study indicates that M. esculenta extracts may hold significant therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases, opening a path for potential therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Morchella esculenta; acetylcholinesterase; molecular docking.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
(a and c) The diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of methanolic extracts of M. esculenta fruiting body and mycelia (Krair Mansehra fruiting body [KMFB]/Krair Mansehra mycelia [KMM] and Thandiani fruiting body [TFB]/Thandiani mycelia [TM]) samples at different concentrations compared to Gallic acid as standard, along with their corresponding error amount as a percentage. (b and d) IC50 graph shows the DPPH radical scavenging activity of varying concentrations of methanolic extracts of selected samples along with gallic acid. Statistical significance is represented as follows: ***** p < 0.0001, *** p < 0.001, ** p < 0.01, * p < 0.05, and ns p ≥ 0.05. GA, gallic acid; ns, nonsignificant.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
(a and c) The diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of methanolic extracts of both fruiting body and mycelia of Morchella (Skardu sample fruiting body [SKFB]/Skardu sample mycelia [SKM] and Malam Jaba fruiting body [MJFB]/Malam Jaba mycelia [MJM]) sample at different concentrations in relation to Gallic acid as standard along with their respective error amount as a percentage. (b and d) IC50 graph shows the DPPH radical scavenging activity of different concentrations of methanolic extracts along with the standard gallic acid. Statistical significance is represented as follows: ***** p < 0.0001, *** p < 0.001, ** p < 0.01, * p < 0.05, and ns p ≥ 0.05. GA, gallic acid; ns, nonsignificant.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
(a and c) Bar plots showing 2,2′‐casino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity of methanolic extracts of M. esculenta, fruiting bodies and mycelia (Krair Mansehra fruiting body [KMFB]/Krair Mansehra mycelia [KMM] and Thandiani fruiting body [TFB]/Thandiani mycelia [TM]), at different concentrations in comparison to gallic acid. (b and d) IC50 values graph showing ABTS radical scavenging activity of M. esculenta along with gallic acid, used as standard. Statistical significance is represented as follows: ***** p < 0.0001, *** p < 0.001, ** p < 0.01, * p < 0.05, and ns p ≥ 0.05. GA, gallic acid; ns, nonsignificant.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
(a and c) Bar plots showing 2,2′‐casino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity of M. esculenta extracts (Skardu sample fruiting body [SKFB]/Skardu sample mycelia [SKM] and Malam Jaba fruiting body [MJFB]/Malam Jaba mycelia [MJM]) at different concentrations in comparison to gallic acid. (b and d) IC50 graph depicts the ABTS radical scavenging activity of varied concentrations of M. esculenta extracts in addition to the standard gallic acid. Statistical significance is represented as follows: ***** p < 0.0001, *** p < 0.001, ** p < 0.01, * p < 0.05, and ns p ≥ 0.05. GA, gallic acid; ns, nonsignificant.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
(a and c) Protein denaturation inhibition by different concentrations of M. esculenta (Krair Mansehra fruiting body [KMFB]/Krair Mansehra mycelia [KMM] and Thandiani fruiting body [TFB]/Thandiani mycelia [TM]) sample in comparison to aspirin (ASP) as standard, with respective error amount (%) (b and d) M. esculenta (Krair Mansehra fruiting body [KMFB]/KMM and TFB/TM) IC50 values for log concentrations. Statistical significance is represented as follows: ***** p < 0.0001, *** p < 0.001, ** p < 0.01, * p < 0.05, and ns p ≥ 0.05. ns, nonsignificant.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
(a and c) Inhibition of protein denaturation by different concentrations of Morchella esculenta (Skardu sample fruiting body [SKFB]/Skardu sample mycelia [SKM] and Malam Jaba fruiting body [MJFB]/Malam Jaba mycelia [MJM]) sample in comparison to aspirin (ASP) as a standard drug along with respective error amount (%). (b and d) IC50 values for log of concentrations of Morchella esculenta (SKFB/SKM and MJFB/MJM). Statistical significance is represented as follows: ***** p < 0.0001, *** p < 0.001, ** p < 0.01, * p < 0.05, and ns p ≥ 0.05. ns, nonsignificant.
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7
(a and c) Percentage protection of human red blood cells (HRBCs) by selected concentrations of methanolic extract of Morchella esculenta (Krair Mansehra fruiting body [KMFB]/Krair Mansehra mycelia [KMM] and Thandiani fruiting body [TFB]/Thandiani mycelia [TM]) sample in comparison with aspirin (ASP) along with respective error amount and (b and d). IC50 curve graph of M. esculenta (Krair Mansehra fruiting body [KMFB]/KMM and TFB/TM) sample. Statistical significance is represented as follows: ***** p < 0.0001, *** p < 0.001, ** p < 0.01, * p < 0.05, and ns p ≥ 0.05. ns, nonsignificant.
FIGURE 8
FIGURE 8
(a and c) Percentage protection of human red blood cells (HRBCs) by selected concentrations of methanolic extract of Morchella esculenta (Skardu sample fruiting body [SKFB]/Skardu sample mycelia [SKM] and Malam Jaba fruiting body [MJFB]/Malam Jaba mycelia [MJM]) sample in comparison with aspirin (ASP) along with respective error amount and (b and d). IC50 curve graph of M. esculenta (KMFB/KMM and TFB/TM) sample. Statistical significance is represented as follows: ***** p < 0.0001, *** p < 0.001, ** p < 0.01, * p < 0.05, and ns p ≥ 0.05. ns, nonsignificant.
FIGURE 9
FIGURE 9
(a and c) Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) percentage inhibition by methanolic extract of M. esculenta (Krair Mansehra fruiting body [KMFB]/Krair Mansehra mycelia [KMM] and Thandiani fruiting body [TFB]/Thandiani mycelia [TM]) fruiting body and mycelia in comparison with Donepezil as standard drug. (b and d) IC50 values for log concentrations of M. esculenta extracts for estimating acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity in comparison to aspirin. Statistical significance is represented as follows: ***** p < 0.0001, *** p < 0.001, ** p < 0.01, * p < 0.05, and ns p ≥ 0.05. DP, Dixon plot; ns, nonsignificant.
FIGURE 10
FIGURE 10
(a and c) Acetylcholinesterase (AchE) percentage inhibition by methanolic extract of M. esculenta (Skardu sample fruiting body [SKFB]/Skardu sample mycelia [SKM] and Malam Jaba fruiting body [MJFB]/Malam Jaba mycelia [MJM]) fruiting body and mycelia in comparison with Donepezil as standard drug. (b and d) Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity was estimated using IC50 values for log of concentrations of M. esculenta extracts and aspirin. Statistical significance is represented as follows: ***** p < 0.0001, *** p < 0.001, ** p < 0.01, * p < 0.05, and ns p ≥ 0.05. DP, Dixon plot; ns, nonsignificant.
FIGURE 11
FIGURE 11
M. esculenta (Krair Mansehra fruiting body [KMFB]) kinetic analysis results: (a) Lineweaver‐Burk plot indicates inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) at varying concentrations of inhibitor (7.5, 5.5, and 4.5 µg/mL) and substrate at different concentrations (0.6, 1.2, and 1.8 mM, respectively); (b) inhibitor versus slope graph; and (c) Dixon plot.
FIGURE 12
FIGURE 12
M. esculenta (Krair Mansehra mycelia [KMM]) kinetic analysis findings: (a) Lineweaver‐Burk plots showing acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition at varying concentrations of inhibitor (9.5, 8.2, and 7.0 µg/mL) and substrate at different concentrations (0.6, 1.2, and 1.8 mM, respectively); (b) inhibitor versus slope graph; and (c) Dixon plot.
FIGURE 13
FIGURE 13
Kinetic analysis of reference (Donepezil) (a) Lineweaver–Burk plots for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition at various inhibitor (22.4, 20.4, and 17.4 µg/mL) and substrate (0.8, 1.2, and 1.5 mM, respectively) at varying concentrations.
FIGURE 14
FIGURE 14
(a) Three‐dimensional (3D) structure of AChE (PDB entry: 4BDT). (b) Binding interactions of M. esculenta compound (Apigenin‐7‐O‐glucoside with amino acid residues of AChE depicting hydrogen bonding, pi‐pi interactions, vander waals interactions.
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