Molecular and metabolites characterisation of Inonotus rickii: a medicinal mushroom from Western Ghats of India and its biological activities

Abstract

ABSTRACT Mushrooms are a rich source of biologically active compounds. Meanwhile, Inonotus species reported abundant bioactive chemicals. Therefore, the current study aims to evaluate the antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer potential of Inonotus rickii (Pat.), a less-studied mushroom with an unverified identity, collected from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, and its metabolic profiling. The morphological traits and spores were examined through a compound microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) to confirm the species. Further, the ITS-5.8S region of the sample DNA was amplified using PCR, and species I. rickii was confirmed through molecular phylogeny. The I. rickii sample extracts demonstrated biological activity against Propionibacterium acnes, Vibrio cholera, and Bacillus subtilis. However, tested antioxidant capacity revealed an increase in activity with an increase in extract concentration. Moreover, the extract showed anticancer potential against Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines MCF-7 with IC50 greater than 80 µg/mL. The FTIR analysis and HRLCMS based metabolic profiling of I. rickii reported various chemical groups and bioactive metabolites, respectively. It might, however, be used as a nutraceutical and in the healthcare industry.