Browsing by Author "Chelela, Baraka"

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Antibacterial and antifungal activities of selected wild mushrooms from Southern Highlands of Tanzania
(American Journal of Research Communication, 2014) Chelela, Baraka; Chacha, Musa; Matemu, Athanasia
The antibacterial and antifungal activities of crude extracts of Lactarius sp, Russula kivuensis, Amanita muscaria, Amanita phalloides, Lactarius gymnocarpoides and Lactarius densifolius (wild mushrooms) were evaluated against. The results showed that, A. muscaria petroleum ether extract (MS1PE) exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity against Shigella flexneri and Klebsiella oxytoca with MIC of 1.56 mg/mL. Chloroform (MS1C), petroleum ether (MS1PE) and ethanol (MS1E) extracts of A. muscaria showed weak activity against Vibrio cholera and Streptococcus pyogens (3.13 mg/mL). Mycobacteria were more resistant to all wild mushroom extracts. On the other hand, A. muscaria ethanol extract (MS1E) showed high activity against Candida albicans with MIC of 0.78 mg/mL moreover, it was least active against Cryptococcus neoformans (MIC = 12.5 mg/mL). The A. muscaria chloroform extract (MS1C) showed moderate activity against both C. albicans and C. neoformans (MIC = 1.56 mg/mL) while its petroleum ether extract (MS1PE) was weakly active against both C. albicans and C. neoformans (MIC of 6.25 mg/mL). The crude extracts of wild mushroom species tested showed inhibitory activity against some bacteria and fungi species giving insight into development of antimicrobial agent and its application in pharmacological activities.
Chemical composition of ethanolic extracts of some wild mushrooms from Tanzania and their medicinal potentials
(Begell House Inc., 2016) Chelela, Baraka; Chacha, Musa; Matemu, Athanasia
The ethanolic extracts of 5 edible and inedible wild mushrooms collected from the Southern Highlands of Tanzania were characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. A total of 75 chemical compounds were obtained, mainly fatty acids, carotenoids, alkaloids, phenols, terpernes, steroids, pyranoside, saccharides, and amino acids. Chemical compounds were identified from the ethanolic extract of Russula cellulata, R. kivuensis, Lactarius densifolius, L. gymnocarpoides, and Lactarius sp. In addition, mass spectra of 4 major groups of compounds were also determined. This study confirms the presence of some important bioactive compounds, such as essential fatty acids (oleic and linoleic), amino acids, and carotenoids. The reported chemical profiles give an insight into the use of wild mushrooms as a potential source of bioactive compounds for nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.
Cytotoxicity activity of some wild mushroom species from Southern Highlands of Tanzania
(American Journal of Research Communication, 2014) Chelela, Baraka; Chacha, Musa; Matemu, Athanasia
The crude extracts from six wild mushroom species (Russula cellulata, Afrocantharellussymoensis, Lactarius sp, Lactarius denigricans, Russula kivuensis, Amanita muscaria and Amanita phalloides) collected from the Southern Highlands of Tanzania were evaluated for cytotoxicity effects against Brine shrimp (Artemia salina) nauplii. The lethal concentration which kills 50% of the larva, LC50 (μg/mL) of the wild mushroom extracts was evaluated. The results showed that, A. muscaria ethanol (MS1E) and petroleum ether (MS1PE) extracts exhibited highest cytotoxicity activity with LC50 of 11.00 and 13.72 μg/mL respectively. Lactarius. denigricans ethanol extract (BM10E) also possessed highest cytotoxicity activity with LC50 of 12.77 μg/mL as compared to its petroleum ether extract (BM10PE) with LC50 of 18.96 μg/mL, followed by chloroform (BM10C) and acetone (BM10A) extracts with LC50 of 32.56 μg/mL and 47.79 μg/mL respectively. In contrast, petroleum ether extract of A. symoensis (BM6PE) showed non-toxic effect on Brine shrimp larvae with LC50 of 202.96 μg/mL. The study on cytotoxicity effect of wild mushrooms will give an insight into possibility of isolating stronger anticancer agents.
Larvicidal potential of wild mushroom extracts against Culex quinquefasciatus Say, Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae Giles S.S
(American Journal of Research Communication, 2014) Chelela, Baraka; Chacha, Musa; Matemu, Athanasia
The crude extracts from six wild mushrooms namely Lactarius densifolius, Lactarius gymnocarpoides, Russula cellulata, Russula kivuensis, Amanita phalloides and Boletus species were evaluated for larvicidal activity against Anopheles gambiae, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. Generally, the crude mushroom extracts demonstrated low to high larvicidal activities against all tested mosquito larvae. The L. gymnocarpoides ethanol extract (BM2E) exhibited the highest activity against A. aegypti with LC50 of 10.75 μg/mL after 72 h of exposure. Lactarius densifolius chloroform extract (BM8C) was effective against A. gambiae (LC50 = 91.33 μg/mL) and moderate effective against C. quinquefasciatus (LC50 = 181.16 μg/mL) respectively. Therefore, wild mushrooms can be a potential source of bio-insecticides for commercial mosquito vector management especially in aquatic ecosystems.
Wild edible mushroom value chain for improved livelihoods in Southern Highlands of Tanzania
(American Journal of Research Communication, 2014) Chelela, Baraka; Chacha, Musa; Matemu, Athanasia
A survey was conducted to assess mycological knowledge and socio-economic benefits along the wild edible mushrooms value chain among Benna and Hehe ethnic groups in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. The mushroom hunters, collectors, processors and retailers from the local communities in Njombe and Iringa regions were interviewed. The information on indigenous mycological knowledge, collecting and retailing of wild edible mushrooms in Benna and Hehe communities were gathered. The wild edible mushrooms were collected in the Miombo woodland surrounding six villages during rainy season in January 2014. From the survey, mushroom collection and selling was gender oriented dominated by women at 70% and 93.5% respectively. Moreover, it was found that 30% of men were involved in collecting and only 6.5% in selling. About 45 species of wild edible mushrooms were collected mainly from Lactarius, Russula, Cantharellus and Amanita species. Mushroom collectors were able to collect 1000 to 1500 kilograms earning US $ 500 to 650 per season. Also, retailers were able to sell 750 to 800 kilograms, earning US $ 750 to 1000 per season. Generally, wild mushrooms collection and retailing can contribute to improved socioeconomic status, thus providing alternative employment and food security to rural minority especially women and elderly in Benna and Hehe communities in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania.
Wild Mushrooms from Tanzania: Characterization and their Importance to the Rural Communities
(Current Research in Environmental & Applied Mycology, 2015-10) Chelela, Baraka; Chacha, Musa; Matemu, Athanasia
Tanzania has a rich diversity of wild mushrooms, both edible and inedible which are used as food and medicinal resources. Despite of their nutritional and medicinal importance, few studies have been done on their characterization. This study was carried out to characterize some wild mushrooms collected from Iringa and Njombe regions in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania in January, 2014. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on edibility, local (vernacular) names, indigenous knowledge and its importance to the rural communities. Indigenous characterization was done in the field, based on the key features (colour, shape and association with other plants), and photographs were taken. Conventional characterization was done using different key references, manuals, monographs and databases. Only five wild mushrooms were reported to be edible on the basis of indigenous information. Local names were found to be very important distinguishing factor between edible and poisonous mushrooms. On the other hand, conventional characterization revealed 7 edible species (Russulaceae-4 and Cantharelaceae-3), 11 inedible species (Boletaceae-4, Polyporaceae 3, Russulaceae-2, Suillaceae-1 and Agaricaceae-1), 2 deadly poisonous (both Amanitaceae) and 4 of unknown edibility (Russulaceae-2, Suillaceae-1 and Boletaceae-1). Most of the species of wild mushrooms were found to share the same ecological habitat. Only edible wild mushrooms were reported to be of importance as opposed to inedible species. Mushroom characterization proved to be a crucial distinctive criterion for distinguishing between edible and inedible species. Taxonomic studies have been shown to be important for accurate classification of wild mushrooms, thus preventing the waste of some edible species and human deaths from the consumption of poisonous ones.