Evaluation of anti-microbial and anti-haemolytic activity of edible basidiomycetes mushroom fungi

Abstract

Mushrooms are used for a variety of biotechnological applications, particularly for the production of food, enzymes, dietary supplements, pharmaceutical compounds, feed supplements. Basidiomycetes mushroom fungi have been known for their nutritional values they can be considered as functional foods which can provide health benefits beyond the traditional nutrients. Mushroom represents a major and untapped source of potent new pharmaceutical products. A wide range of activities including antitumour, cardiovascular and antimicrobial are reported in mushrooms. In developing countries like India mushroom progress is a boon in the field of food, medicine, and in generating employment. The alternative systems of medicine utilize the curative properties of mushrooms. They are also known to possess promising antioxidative, cardiovascular, hypercholesterolemia, antimicrobial, hepato-protective and anticancer effects. The present study aimed to evaluate antimicrobial and antihaemolytic activities of various extracts of Basidiomycetes mushroom fungi. Different Basidiomycetes mushroom fungi extracts (Hot water, Acetone and Hexane) were tested for antimicrobial and antihaemolytic activities. Among these different extracts of Basidiomycetes mushroom fungi the hexane extract of Pleurotus pulmonarius showed potential antimicrobial and antihaemolytic activity. The results of this study suggest the possibility of using Basidiomycetes mushroom fungi as natural sources for the pharmaceutical industry and could act as safe and cost-effective with potential biological activities. These findings encourage studying these fungal strains further for their potential biological applications.