Antibacterial and antifungal activities of selected wild mushrooms from Southern Highlands of Tanzania

Abstract

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.