Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties of Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq: Fries) Cultivated on Different Tropical Woody Substrates

Abstract

Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq:Fries) was cultivated on three different tropical woody substrates viz: Cananium sp., Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw) and Ceiba pentandra (L) Gaertn. Total phenol, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of extracts obtained from the artificially cultivated P. ostreatus were assessed using standard methods. Total phenol contents (TPC) ranging from 0.89 μg/g to 2.63 μg/g was obtained from the P. ostreatus extracts. P. ostreatus cultivated on P. ongoleubis had the highest TPC (2.63μg/ml). Moreover, P. ostreatus extracts displayed a good DPPH radical scavenging ability. The percentage scavenging activity against DPPH radicals ranged from 73.75% to 90.75%. P. ostreatus cultivated on P. ongoleubis, had the highest DPPH radical scavenging ability (90.17%) while the P. ostreatus cultivated on C. pentandra had the least (73.75%). The mushroom extracts were able to inhibit all the test organisms with zones of inhibition ranging from 5.33 mm to 20.33 mm. P. ostreatus cultivated on the P. ongoleubis exhibited the best inhibitory effect (18 mm to 20 mm) against Staphylococcus aureus. The study revealed that different woody substrate used in cultivating P. ostreatus has a significant effect on its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. P. ostreatus cultivated on sawdust from P. ongoleubis exhibited better antimicrobial and antioxidant activities when compared with P. ostreatus cultivated on the other woody substrates, C. pentandra and Cananium sp.