Abstract

Present investigation focuses on the antimicrobial potential of cultured mycelium extracts over fruiting bodies of Ganoderma spp. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ethanolic extracts of the fruiting body of G. lucidium against multidrug resistance pathogens was evaluated using broth dilution method. MIC of crude ethanolic extracts of fruiting body of G. lucidium was 0.78 mg/ml for Salmonella typhi, 3.12 mg/ml for Salmonella typhimurium, and 1.56 mg/ml for Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans; while MIC of the cultured mycelium crude extract was 0.39 mg/ml for S. typhi, 0.78 mg/ml for S. typhimurium, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans. Their activities were found to be pH tolerant and thermostable. Additionally, both types of the extracts inhibited heavy doses of inoculum. The extracts showed broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. MIC used for Escherichia coli, Klebsella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Enterococcus faecalis and Proteus vulgaris was 1.56 mg/ml for the fruiting body extract (crude) and 0.78 mg/ml for the cultured mycelium crude extract; while MBC used for E. coli, Klebsella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus. saprophyticus, Enterococcus  faecalis and Proteus vulgaris was 3.12 mg/ml and 1.56 mg/ml for the fruiting body extract (crude) and cultured mycelium crude extract, respectively. Cultivated mycelium is a continuous source for obtaining antimicrobial compounds compared to fruiting bodies, and manipulation of media components may result in enhanced production of desired compounds. The findings are interesting from a commercial point of view. Therefore, there is potential possibility to establish research and development of antimicrobial compounds from ‘indigenous’ Ganoderma spp.

Key words: Antimicrobial activity, Ganoderma spp., fruiting body, cultured mycelium.