Abstract
The rapid rise of antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide problem. This has necessitated the need to search for new antimicrobial agents. Mushrooms are rich sources of potential antimicrobial agents. This study investigated the antimicrobial properties of methanol extracts of Trametes gibbosa, Trametes elegans, Schizophyllum commune, and Volvariella volvacea. Agar well diffusion, broth microdilution, and time-kill kinetic assays were used to determine the antimicrobial activity of the extracts against selected test organisms. Preliminary mycochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, triterpenoids, anthraquinones, and alkaloids in the extracts. Methanol extracts of T. gibbosa, T. elegans, S. commune, and V. volvacea showed mean zone of growth inhibition of 10.00 ± 0.0 to 21.50 ± 0.84, 10.00 ± 0.0 to 22.00 ± 1.10, 9.00 ± 0.63 to 21.83 ± 1.17, and 12.00 ± 0.0 to 21.17 ± 1.00 mm, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration of methanol extracts of T. gibbosa, T. elegans, S. commune, and V. volvacea ranged from 4.0 to 20, 6.0 to 30.0, 8.0 to 10.0, and 6.0 to 20.0 mg/mL, respectively. Time-kill kinetics studies showed that the extracts possess bacteriostatic action. Methanol extracts of T. gibbosa, T. elegans, S. commune, and V. volvacea exhibited antimicrobial activity and may contain bioactive compounds which may serve as potential antibacterial and antifungal agents.
Highlights
Infectious diseases pose serious threats to the existence, health, and survival of mankind [1]
Fruiting bodies of T. gibbosa, T. elegans, S. commune, and V. volvacea were collected from farms and forests in Ayeduase in the Ashanti Region, Ghana, from June to November 2012, from their natural habitats
Coumarins were absent in all four mushroom extracts, and anthraquinones were present in T. gibbosa, T. elegans, and S. commune but absent in V. volvacea, while saponins were absent in T. gibbosa, T. elegans, and S. commune but present in V. volvacea (Table 1)
Summary
Infectious diseases pose serious threats to the existence, health, and survival of mankind [1]. The World Health Organization (WHO) survey in 2008 indicated that infectious diseases caused 32% of deaths worldwide with 68% of the deaths occurring in Africa [2]. Infectious diseases still account for a great proportion of death globally and in some regions remain the most important cause of ill health [2]. The discovery of penicillin and subsequent development and synthesis of other antibiotics had been a milestone in the history of medicine. This medical breakthrough is being lost to the development and rapid spread of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
