Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory potential of the edible macrofungus Fistulina hepatica: Inhibition of bacterial growth and COX enzymes

Abstract

Edible macrofungi are valuable sources of nutraceutical and pharmacologically active metabolites. This study evaluated four extracts of Fistulina hepatica, a polysaccharide-rich fraction (PSH) and extracts prepared with 70% ethanol (70% EtOH), 80% methanol (80% MeOH), and chloroform (CHCl3), for their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. Anti-inflammatory potential was assessed by cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) inhibition using a colorimetric in vitro assay, while antimicrobial activity was evaluated by microdilution method against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. The CHCl₃ extract showed the strongest bioactivity, inhibiting COX-1 by 37.5% and COX-2 by 70.8%, comparable to celecoxib (66%). It also displayed antimicrobial effects, with MICs of 0.0125 mg/mL against B. cereus and P. aeruginosa and 0.03125 mg/mL against S. aureus, while no MBC values were detected. Other extracts exhibited weak or no activity. These findings highlight F. hepatica as a promising dual-function natural source of COX-2–selective and antimicrobial agents for potential nutraceutical applications.