Laura Smith
Mushrooms, the fruiting body of a macrofungus, have been used for medicinal purposes throughout history. In modern times, several antibiotics have been isolated from various mushrooms and microfungi, including penicillin and griseofulvin. However, with the increasing incidence of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, the development of new antibiotics is crucial. Researchers have turned to nature's resources, specifically fungi, which have the potential to produce new antibiotics and improve the efficiency of existing ones. Mushrooms, in particular, exhibit strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, making them promising candidates for pharmaceutical purposes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Antibiotics derived from mushrooms | Penicillin, griseofulvin, pleuromutilin, fusafungine, fusidic acid, antibiotic nanoparticles |
| Fungi used to derive antibiotics | Penicillium rubens, microfungi, Pleuromutilin, Fusarium spp., Penicillium fungi, Pleurotus ostreatus |
| Other sources of antibiotics | Red soils of Jordan, traditional Chinese medicine practices |
| Types of mushroom bioactives | Polysaccharides, triterpenes |
| Types of fungi | Filamentous fungi, macrofungi, microfungi |
| Uses of antibiotics | Treatment of infectious diseases, coating surgical instruments, wound-healing creams and gels |
| Issues with antibiotics | Increased incidence of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, antibiotic resistance |
| Benefits of mushrooms | Strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, potential for use in food and human, animal and plant therapy |
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What You'll Learn
Antibiotics derived from mushrooms have been used throughout history
Mushrooms, the fruiting body of a macrofungus, have been used throughout history for medicinal purposes. In modern times, several antibiotics have been isolated from various mushrooms and microfungi, including penicillin and griseofulvin. However, of the tens of thousands of mushroom varieties, only a handful have been studied for their potential antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral, and/or antiprotozoan properties, as well as other health benefits.
The antimicrobial activity of mushroom extracts has been demonstrated in several studies. For example, the acetone and methanol extracts of Boletus aestivalis, Boletus edulis, and Leccinum carpini mushrooms showed strong antimicrobial activity against five species of bacteria and five species of fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration for both extracts was 1.25 - 10 mg/ mL, indicating that lower concentrations of these extracts can effectively inhibit the growth of microorganisms.
In another study, the polysaccharides extracted from the mushroom Cordyceps sinensis inhibited the growth of the bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus epidermidis, while the mushroom P. australis extract restricted the growth of S. epidermidis. These results suggest that further testing of mushroom polysaccharides for antibiotic properties is warranted.
Furthermore, scientists have synthesized silver nanoparticles with antibiotic properties using an extract of the tree oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus. These nanoparticles have potential applications in coating surgical instruments and in wound-healing creams and gels. The tree oyster mushroom itself has also been shown to possess anticancer, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and cholesterol-lowering properties.
Overall, mushrooms have been used throughout history for their medicinal properties, and they continue to be a valuable source of natural antibiotics and antioxidants that can be used in pharmaceutical and food applications. Further research and studies on the vast number of mushroom varieties and their potential benefits are warranted.
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Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of mushroom extracts
Mushrooms have been used for their medicinal properties for centuries. They are a good source of natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents. Several antibiotics have been isolated from various mushrooms and microfungi, including penicillin and griseofulvin.
The antioxidant activity of mushroom extracts has been studied extensively. An in-vitro study conducted in Iran confirmed the antioxidant potential of Cantharellus cibarius and Pleurotus porrigens methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts. The antioxidant activity of different mushrooms was reviewed for different radicals, including DPPH, ABTS, OH, Nitrite, and metals. The polyphenolic compounds and polysaccharides were responsible for the high antioxidant potential of the mushrooms studied. Among all, Ganoderma was the most antioxidant mushroom. The polysaccharides extracted from the mushroom Cordyceps sinensis inhibited the growth of the bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus epidermidis.
The antimicrobial activity of mushroom extracts has also been explored. The antimicrobial activity of each extract was estimated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using the microdilution plate method against five species of bacteria and five species of fungi. The tested mushroom extracts had relatively strong antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganisms. The MIC for both extracts related to the tested bacteria and fungi were 1.25-10 mg/mL. The acetone extracts generally exerted stronger antimicrobial activity than the methanol extracts. The maximum antimicrobial activity was found in the acetone extract of the mushroom Leccinum carpini against Enterococcus faecalis (MIC = 1.25 mg/mL).
The potential applications of mushroom extracts in pharmaceuticals and treating and managing various diseases are promising. Mushrooms can also be used to synthesize silver nanoparticles with antibiotic properties, which have potential applications in coating surgical instruments and in wound-healing creams and gels.
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The potential of mushrooms in the age of antibiotic resistance
Antibiotics have saved millions of lives since they were discovered in the 1940s. However, due to their extensive use and misuse, combined with the high adaptability of bacteria, many bacteria have now become multi-drug-resistant (MDR). This has made the treatment of infections challenging, especially when MDR bacteria form biofilms. As such, it is important to adopt effective measures to avoid the development of antibiotic resistance by pathogenic bacteria.
Fungi, including mushrooms, have been identified as a potential source of new antibiotics. The first antibiotic to be mass-produced, penicillin, was derived from Penicillium fungi. Since then, many other antibiotics have been discovered from filamentous fungi, including penicillin V and cephalosporine C. In addition, several antibiotics have been isolated from various mushrooms and microfungi, including penicillin and griseofulvin.
Mushrooms have also been found to have strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in vitro. The antimicrobial activity of mushroom extracts has been shown to be effective against a range of bacteria and fungi, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 1.25 - 10 mg/mL. The polysaccharides extracted from certain mushrooms have been found to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria, and mushroom extracts have been used to synthesize silver nanoparticles with antibiotic properties.
The vast number of mushroom varieties, as well as other fungi, presents a large and vastly unexplored source of potential new antibiotics and other bioactive molecules. Further research and support from governments and clinical studies are needed to fuel the discovery and production of new antibiotics from these sources.
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The use of mushrooms to make antibiotic nanoparticles
Mushrooms have been used for medicinal purposes throughout history. In modern times, several antibiotics have been isolated from various mushrooms and microfungi, including penicillin and griseofulvin. However, only a handful of the tens of thousands of mushroom varieties have been studied for their potential antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral, and antiprotozoan properties, as well as other health benefits.
The field of myconanotechnology employs fungal biomass to reduce and stabilize the fabrication process of metallic nanoparticles (NPs). Fungi are particularly good at producing NPs because they release a large number of enzymes and proteins that ensure better levels of production. They are also commonly regarded as high-performing producers of polysaccharides, phenolics, and various metabolites that represent potential sources of novel natural antioxidants.
The tree oyster mushroom is an edible fungus with anticancer, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and cholesterol-lowering properties. Previous studies have used it to make silver nanoparticles, but the mushroom's fruiting body has not yet been used to prepare silver nanoparticles. The use of the mushroom's extract to synthesize nanoparticles offers a green and eco-friendly method for nanoparticle production.
The bioprospection of mushrooms has inspired the development of novel mycopharmaceuticals and food with high nutritional value. Mushroom-based nanoparticles have the potential to be used as food supplements to fight against pathogens and as antimicrobial agents in food preservation. They could also offer an alternative method for treating bacterial infections without the toxic side effects of commercial antibiotics on the liver, kidneys, and nerve cells.
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The importance of fungi in the discovery of antibiotics
Mushrooms, the fruiting body of macrofungi, have been used for medicinal purposes throughout history. Several antibiotics have been isolated from various mushrooms and microfungi, including penicillin and griseofulvin. However, out of tens of thousands of mushroom varieties and other fungi, only a handful have been studied for their potential antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral, and antiprotozoan properties, as well as other health benefits.
The antimicrobial activity of mushroom extracts has been demonstrated against several species of bacteria and fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration for these extracts ranged from 1.25 to 10 mg/mL, indicating relatively strong antimicrobial activity. The polysaccharides extracted from certain mushrooms have been found to inhibit the growth of specific bacteria. Further testing of these polysaccharides for antibiotic properties is warranted.
Fungi are a rich source of bioactive molecules that can be developed into potential novel antimicrobial drugs. The three most important classes of secondary metabolites from fungi include polyketides, non-ribosomal peptides, and terpenoids. Penicillins like penicillin V and cephalosporins like cephalosporine C were the first and second classes of antibiotics discovered from filamentous fungi, respectively. Other antibiotics derived from fungi include pleuromutilin and its derivatives, enniATINS like fusafungine, and fusidic acid.
The development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria poses a significant challenge to the treatment of infectious diseases. Fungi have enormous potential for the discovery of new antibiotics, as well as enabling more efficient production of existing ones. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a method for finding new antibiotics from natural sources, including fungi, to combat antibiotic resistance. The vast and largely unexplored secondary metabolome of filamentous fungi offers a promising avenue for drug discovery in the age of antibiotic resistance.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, antibiotics have been derived from mushrooms and microfungi, including penicillin and griseofulvin.
Some examples of antibiotics derived from mushrooms include penicillin, cephalosporine C, fusafungine, and cyclosporin A.
Mushrooms have been used for medicinal purposes throughout history and have strong antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. They are a good natural source of antioxidants and can be used for pharmaceutical purposes in treating various diseases.
There are tens of thousands of mushroom varieties, but only a handful have been studied for their potential antibiotic properties. Additionally, the extensive use and misuse of antibiotics have led to the development of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, which can make treatment challenging.
Some specific mushrooms that have been studied for their antibiotic properties include Boletus aestivalis, Boletus edulis, and Leccinum carpini. The polysaccharides extracted from the mushroom Cordyceps sinensis have also been found to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria.
