Molecular Identification and Antimicrobial Activities of Wild Egyptian Mushrooms: Bjerkandera adusta as a Promising Source of Bioactive Antimicrobial Phenolic Compounds
- Author: mycolabadmin
- 2021-07-19
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Summary
This research identified and studied wild mushrooms from Egypt to find natural alternatives to synthetic antibiotics. The study found that certain mushroom species, particularly Bjerkandera adusta, contain powerful antimicrobial compounds that could help fight bacterial and fungal infections. The researchers used modern DNA analysis to accurately identify the mushrooms and discovered various beneficial compounds in their extracts.
Impacts on everyday life:
– Provides natural alternatives to synthetic antibiotics
– Could lead to new food preservatives from mushroom extracts
– Helps identify safe wild mushrooms for consumption
– Offers potential new treatments for bacterial and fungal infections
– Contributes to the development of natural medicinal products
Background
Mushrooms belong to macroscopic fungi with distinctive fruiting bodies, primarily from Basidiomycota and some Ascomycota. They grow naturally on tree trunks or rotting woody debris in humid areas and are used worldwide as nutritious foods and therapeutic sources. The discovery of potential new cost-effective drug resources from mushrooms’ bioactive compounds is one way to control resistant pathogens.
Objective
To employ molecular characterization for identification of morphologically different mushrooms collected from Egypt and evaluate their bioactivity against pathogenic microbes. The study aimed to explore new natural sources for controlling widespread microbes affecting human health.
Results
The sequences revealed identity to Bjerkandera adusta, Cyclocybe cylindracea, Agrocybe aegerita, Chlorophyllum molybdites, and Lentinus squarrosulus. Bjerkandera adusta and Cyclocybe cylindracea showed strong antimicrobial activity against most tested pathogens. HPLC analysis of B. adusta extract revealed 11 different phenolic compounds, with chlorogenic acid being the highest at 11.33 μg/ml. The antimicrobial activity was attributed to synergistic interactions between various natural phenolics and flavonoids detected.
Conclusion
Molecular characterization provides accurate authentication of wild mushrooms and their evolutionary relationships. The antimicrobial potential proven in the analyzed mushroom extracts, particularly from Bjerkandera adusta and Cyclocybe cylindracea, suggests they can be used in the food industry as alternatives to synthetic antimicrobial compounds and in alternative medicine.
- Published in:Journal of Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology,
- Study Type:Laboratory Research,
- Source: 10.1186/s43141-021-00200-8