Antagonistic Effect of Extracts of Some Nigerian Higher Fungi Against Selected Pathogenic Microorganisms

Abstract

2 Abstract: In-vitro studies were carried out to investigate antagonistic effect of crude and purified extracts of some selected Nigerian higher fungi against selected pathogenic microorganisms. Purified and crude extracts of the tested higher fungi showed wide spectrum of antibacterial activity. The highest antibacterial inhibitory activity (24.0 mm) was recorded with the purified extract (PRE) of Polyporus giganteus against E. coli. The second widest zone of inhibition (22.0 mm) was recorded with the PRE of Pleurotus florida against K. pneumoniae. Except the extracts of Pleurotus tuber-regium, none of the tested macrofungi was able to inhibit the growth of P. aeruginosa. Generally, the antifungal activities of these higher fungi were low. Only P. giganteus and T. robustus inhibited the growth of C. albicans with values which are not statistically significant from each other (p 0.05). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of M. jodocodo against E. coli was 2.75 mg ml while that of T. robustus against M. bourlardii was 15.75 mg ml . The implications of these 11