Screening of antimicrobial substances from mushrooms (Agaricales) of southern Brazil

Abstract

Mushrooms are a source of bioactive substances due to the synthesis of secondary metabolites, which are useful in the search of new substances for pharmaceutical use. The aim of this study was to evaluate extracts with antimicrobial potential of native South Brazilian mushrooms against pathogenic bacteria and yeast. Basidiomata of 14 mushroom species were collected, dried, grounded and extracted with methanol in the Soxhlet system. The antimicrobial activity was tested by agar diffusion and direct bioautography methods against Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Six extracts inhibited the tested microorganisms, showing moderate sensitivity in the agar diffusion test. On the other hand, using the bioautography method, nine extracts presented activity and revealed ten antimicrobial substances, of which five are indicative of terpenes. Among the species investigated, to our knowledge, this is the first report of antimicrobial activity of Simocybe tucumana and Mycena euspeirea.