Antimicrobial Activity of Pleurotus squarrosulus on Clinical Pathogenic Bacteria and Fungi

Aim: To evaluate the antimicrobial activities of Pleurotus squarrosulus mushroom extracts on bacterial and fungal isolates.

Study Design: Pleurotus squarrosulus was obtained from different sources in Umuahia North Local Government, Abia state, Nigeria and identified in the Department of botany, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Place and Duration of Study: Antimicrobial activities of Pleurotus squarrosulus was carried out in the department of microbiology between January 2016 and August 2016

Methodology: Pleurotus squarrosulus was extracted using ethanol, methanol and aqueous. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were carried out by agar disc diffusion technique using National Committee of Clinical Laboratory Standard. Qualilative phytochemical analysis was carried out using standard methods.

Results: Methanol, ethanol and aqueous extracts of Pleurotus squarrosulus were tested against E. coli, B. cereus, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, C. albicans and C. glabrata. The different test microorganisms showed varied susceptibility to the test extracts. All the test organisms were inhibited by methanol, ethanol and aqueous extract at varied concentrations ranging between 500 mg/ml and 125 mg/ml. Statistically, inhibition of the antibacterial and antifungal control for the test organisms were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of the extracts. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponin, carbohydrates, tannins, flavonoids and proteins in all the extracts while glycoside and alkaloids, were found in some.

Conclusion: The finding of this result suggest that Pleurotus squarrosulus possess broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The potential of developing antimicrobials from plants appear rewarding.