Antibacterial Activity of Some Bulgarian Higher Basidiomycetes Mushrooms

Abstract

Polar and unpolar extracts from 18 species of the most widespread Bulgarian higher Basidiomycetes were tested for their activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. Most of the studied extracts demonstrated activity against S. aureus but all were inactive against the Gram-negative E. coli and C. albicans. In general, the chloroform extracts were more active than the butanol ones. The most active mushroom extracts were comparable and even more active than standardized propolis extract in their inhibition of S. aureus. The study demonstrates the potential of mushrooms as antibacterial remedies and as a source of antibacterial compounds and gives useful hints for a more detailed investigation of the most active species.