Evaluation of the Inhibitory Potentials of Eight Higher Nigerian Fungi against Pathogenic Microorganisms

Studies were carried out to determine antimicrobial potentials of crude and purified methanol extracts of some selected Nigerian mushrooms against some selected pathogenic microorganisms. The best in vitro antibacterial activity (24.0mm) was observed with the purified extract (PRE) of Polyporus giganteus against E. coli. This was followed in order by PRE of Pleurotus florida against K. pneumoniae with 22.0mm (P 0.05). Among the screened higher fungi, only the extracts of Pleurotus tuber-regium, were able to inhibit the growth of P. aeruginosa. It was also observed that antifungal activities of these mushrooms were generally low. Candida albicans were inhibited by the extracts of P. giganteus and T. robustus only while other fungi produce no zone of inhibition The observed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of M. jodocodo against E. coli was 2.75mg/ml while that of T. robustus against M. bourlardii was 15.75mg/ml. The significance of these observations was discussed.