Antimicrobial and phytochemical screening of selected wild mushrooms naturally found in Garhwal Himalayan region, Uttarakhand, India

Natural products contain several ingredients that can treat number of ailments. Due to the increase in antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, natural resources are being looked at as an alternative source to combat harmful microbes. This can reduce the effects on harmful microbes by obtaining antibacterial compounds derived from natural resources. The aim of present study is to explore some new potent varieties of unexplored wild mushroom species to investigate their effects on microbial activity. In this study hexane, chloroform, methanol, 70% ethanol, and hot water extracts of Cantharellus cibarius, Phellinus pectinatus, Laccaria laccata, Trametes versicolor, and Gloeophyllum sepiarium were tested for antibacterial activity against nine bacterial strains namely Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aerouginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Enterobacter aerogenes, Proteus mirabilis by disk diffusion method. The present study showing that Phellinus pectinatus and Gloeophyllum sepiarium mushroom species methanol and Ethanol extracts are most active against Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacter aerogenes and Pseudomonas aerouginosa bacterial strains. The present study reveals important secondary metabolites compounds including alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, glycosides, etc. were present in wild mushroom extracts. Out of 5 extracts, methanol and ethanol extract have been shown a great potential as antimicrobial secondary metabolites compared to other extracts. The result of present research is expressing the high potency of extracts to stop the growth of bacteria and this extract can be further suggested for medical utilizations and could be used as natural antimicrobial source.