Optimization of Triterpenoid Extraction from Antrodia cinnamomea Mycelia Using Response Surface Methodology and Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity

Abstract

Antrodia cinnamomea is a medicinal fungus rich in triterpenoids with potential bioactivities. In this study, triterpenoid extraction from A. cinnamomea mycelial biomass was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) to improve extraction efficiency. A three-factor RSM model demonstrated that extraction at 58.8 °C for 2.25 h with a solvent to material ratio of 25:1 (mL/g) resulted in a maximum triterpenoid yield of 3.93 ± 0.13 mg/g, with good agreement between predicted and experimental values. The results indicated that triterpenoid extraction followed a nonlinear response, suggesting that extraction efficiency is governed by a balance between enhanced mass transfer and compound stability. Under the optimized conditions, the triterpenoid extract exhibited ABTS•+ radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 266.97 ± 2.00 µg/mL, indicating moderate antioxidant capacity compared with ascorbic acid. This study demonstrates that RSM is an effective tool for optimizing triterpenoid extraction and provides a practical and mechanistically supported approach for producing triterpenoid-rich extracts from A. cinnamomea for potential applications in functional foods and nutraceuticals.