| dc.description.abstract | Background: Mushrooms are evenly distributed worldwide and are mainly used for food,
medicine and for commercial purposes. But few of the species have been investigated for medicinal potential, safety and chemical compounds present. Similarly, mushroom in the genus Marasmius have reportedly been used in treatment of ailments such as boils, wounds, cough, sore throat and GIT disorders like diarrhoea by the Ugandan local population but limited studies have been done to identify their antibacterial activity, safety and the chemical compounds profile.
Aim: The study was aimed at determining the antibacterial activity, safety and chemical compounds present in the Marasmius spp mushroom extracts.
Methods: Experimental laboratory-based study was carried out. Determination of the antibacterial activity; sensitivity test (zones of inhibition) was determined by agar well diffusion technique, followed by determination of MIC and MBC of the two selected species of Marasmius mushroom extracts on different species of bacteria including E. coli, P.aeruginosa and S.aureus. Safety
studies including acute toxicity was determined using a procedure proposed by Ghosh (2019), on Swiss albino mice whereas Sub-acute toxicity was done using a procedure by OECD 407 guidelines on Wistar albino rats together with haematological and biochemical blood and the histopathological studies on the liver and kidney. To determine the compounds present, a qualitative chemical analysis of the extracts was also done. The experimental data was summarised in tables and analysed employing ANOVA and the t-test statistical techniques in STATA statistical package version 13.
Results: The total crude extract (i.e., combined methanol, diethyl-ether, and aqueous) of Marasmius sp1 (i.e., Omutundugo omweru) (Luganda) was sensitive against all three organisms namely E. coli, P.aeruginosa and S.aureus. While the aqueous extract of Marasmius sp1, aqueous and total crude extracts of Marasmius sp2 (i.e., Omutundugo omumyufu) (Luganda) were only
sensitive against S. aureus. However, all extracts were less sensitive than the control. Total crude extract of Marasmius spp1 had a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 125mg/mL on S.aureus, 125mg/mL on P. aeruginosa and 250mg/mL on E.coli. The aqueous extract of Marasmius sp1, and the aqueous extract and total crude extract of Marasmius sp2 had MIC of 250mg/mL, 250mg/mL and 250mg/mL respectively on S.aureus. The Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of both aqueous extracts of Marasmius sp2 and Marasmius sp1, and total crude extracts of Marasmius sp2 Marasmius sp1 on S.aureus was 500mg/mL, 500mg/mL, 500mg/mL and 250mg/ml respectively. MBC of total crude extract of Marasmius sp1 on P. aeruginosa was 250mg/ml whereas that of Marasmius sp1 on E. coli was 500mg/ml. In acute toxicity study; no death of animals occurred in 24 hours following dosing of the extracts. In sub acute toxicity study; haematology parameters generally reduced on day 7 and 14 but increased through day 21 and 28 but all remained in the normal range for both of the groups that received extracts and the control. Blood chemistry parameters generally increased throughout the study for both the treatment groups and the control but all remained in the normal ranges. For histopathology studies; both the liver and the kidney from animals had no significant lesions detected. Chemical compounds including alkaloids, flavonoids, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars and saponins
were found in the extracts.
Conclusion: The two species of Marasmius mushrooms (i.e., Marasmius sp1, and Marasmius sp2) showed antibacterial activity and were non-toxic in Swiss albino mice. No adverse effects on haematological and blood chemistry were registered and no significant lesions were found in the liver and kidney of animals that received treatment. Chemical compounds including alkaloids,
flavonoids, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars and saponins were present in the mushrooms extracts which might be responsible for their antibacterial and other ethno-botanical uses by the local communities near Mpanga forest. | en_US |
