BACKGROUND Higher fungi such as oyster mushrooms have been well reported to have vast therapeutic and nutritive importance due to their bioactive constituents. Today, many interesting facts are also emerging regarding their importance in pest control. In this study, Pleurotus floridanus, P. ostreatus and P. sajor-caju were studied for exopolysacharide (EPS) and antioxidant production under different carbon sources, and assayed for larvicidal properties. RESULTS We observed a positive response of these mushrooms to carbon sources. The highest EPS was produced by P. sajor-caju under sucrose carbon source, whereas P. ostreatus and P. floridanus preferred glucose. The antioxidant activity of their EPS was confirmed using radical scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and potassium ferricyanide reduction methods. We also established the inhibition of lipid peroxidation by the EPS produced by these mushrooms, although this was concentration dependent, while P. floridanus EPS had the highest antioxidant properties. An EPS concentration of 100 mg L-1 from all the mushrooms was sufficient for inhibition of lipid peroxidation; this also showed a significant difference from the scavenging effect of butylated hydroxytoluene. All the mushroom extracts in this study had positive inhibitory effects on the late third and early fourth stages of Anopheles gambiae. However, they were significantly different from each other as P. floridanus recorded a lethal concentration (LC50) of 0.0.563, P. ostreatus had an LC50 of 0.352, while P. sajor-caju had an LC50 of 0.715. CONCLUSION This study affirms the influence of carbon source on EPS production by selected oyster mushrooms, and reveals their antioxidant properties and potential applications in pest control. (c) 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

In this study, samples of polypore mushroom Laetiporus conifericola were collected from Pennsylvania, USA. The antimicrobial activity (AMA) of ethanolic, methanolic, and water extracts of this fungus were tested in vitro by the agar diffusion test against some selected clinically important microorganisms. These microorganisms included three Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus 5W1941, S. epidermidis 85W1940, and Bacillus cereus 85W1815), three Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli 85W1860, Salmonella typhimurium 85W1956, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 85W1903), and one fungus (Candida albicans). These extracts demonstrated varying degrees of inhibition against all of the test pathogenic microorganisms except C. albicans. Methanolic and ethanolic extracts of L. conifericola were very effective against S. aureus, while the aqueous extract was the least effective. All tested extracts were effective against S. epidermidis, methanolic extract produced the best zone of inhibition followed by the aqueous extract while ethanolic extract had the least zone of inhibition. B. cereus and P. aeruginosa were highly susceptible to ethanol extract. In addition, the growth of E. coli was best inhibited by the aqueous extract, followed by the methanolic and ethanolic extracts, respectively. The aqueous and methanolic extracts were most effective against S. typhimurium; however, this bacterium was not susceptible to ethanolic extract. The significance of these findings is discussed.

Contamination of food and food products by aflatoxin has raised a lot of food safety concerns.This present study investigates the influence of garlic (Allium sativum) on the nutrient and aflatoxin contents, as well as associated toxigenic fungi in 'kulikuli' (groundnut cake).Samples of kulikuli (a common convenience food) from Nigeria were purchased from five markets in five different towns in North-West (NW) and North-Central (NC) Nigeria.Samples of this snack were also prepared in the Mycology Laboratory of the University of Ibadan.Kulikuli with garlic (BUIKG) and without garlic (BUIK) served as controls.Fungi associated with this food samples were isolated, characterized and subjected to percentage incidence test.Nutrient composition of kulikuli such as Crude Protein, Fibre, Fat, Moisture and Ash contents were determined.Aflatoxins (AFB 1 , AFB 2 , AFG 1 and AFG 2 ) contents as well as pH were also determined in kulikuli using standard procedures.Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus had the highest incidence of 26.59% and 26.08% respectively.Aspergillus fumigatus (2.83%) had the least while BUIKG had no fungal incidence.Kulikuli samples from markets were significantly different (α 0.05 ) in nutrients.Moisture contents ranged between 8.88 and 11.91%, ash (2.89-3.91%),crude protein (43.18-49.23%),fibre (2.99-3.20%)and fat (3.88-4.83%).BUIKG kulikuli had the highest crude protein (59.23%), fibre (4.55%) and pH (6.88).The BUIK had the highest fat (3.82%) and moisture content (12.61%), while both BUIK and BUIKG had highest ash content (4.84%).The market purchased kulikuli samples had the highest AFB 1 , AFB 2 , AFG 1 and AFG 2 of 1.58, 2.72, 0.14 and 0.20 µg/kg respectively, while the laboratory prepared (BUIKG) had the least AFB 1 (0.34µg/kg), AFB 2 (0.37µg/kg), AFG 1 (0.01µg/kg) and AFG 2 (0.02µg/kg).It was observed that the introduction of garlic into kulikuli significantly reduced fungal contamination and aflatoxin level in the different samples.The implications of these results are discussed.

The antimicrobial potential of Trichaptum biforme and Bjerkandera adusta extracts were evaluated on some selected bacteria and Candida albicans. Our results showed that aqueous, methanol and ethanol extracts of T. biforme and B. adusta exhibited no antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans. However, some extracts of B. adusta were very effective against three Gram-negative bacteria ( Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ) and three Gram-positive bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus cereus ). Likewise, extracts of Trichaptum biforme were also effective against all three Gram-positive bacteria and only one Escherichia coli . The effectiveness of these two fungi as antibacterial agents should be well explored with development of optimized methods for mass production of these macrofungi in controlled environments. Keywords: Macrofungi; extracts; bacteria; explored; effectiveness; optimized method DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/11-16-01 Publication date: August 31 st 2020

Antiulcer and blood-boosting activities of feeds supplemented with Trametes versicolar (Tv) in Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) were studied.Haematological studies and antiulcer biochemical analysis were carried out on the rats using standard methods.Data were presented as Mean ± SEM, analyzed using two-way ANOVA and p ≤ 0.05 was significantly different in all the variables.Haematological parameters were not significantly different across all Tv treatments when compared with the control (CN).There were also significant differences in values obtained for gastric ulcer inhibition, nitric oxide, mucin, sulfhydryl, and H + /K + -ATPase.Tv treatment groups also differed when compared with ulcerated untreated control (CU).The pathological changes detected from histological studies on the stomach tissues showed inhibition of ulcers.Tv treatment groups demonstrated blood boosting and antiulcer activity through synergistic activities of mucin, H + /K + ATPase activity, and antioxidant mechanism.The implications of these observations are discussed.

Ganoderma lucidum (Gl), collected from Saki, Oyo State, South Western Nigeria, was employed as dietary supplements in the assessments of blood-boosting and gastro-protective actions on male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus).The antiulcer, biochemical and haematological influences were carried out in triplicates using standard methods.Data were expressed as Mean ± SE, interpreted using ANOVA and test of significance was carried out using DMRT (P≤ 0.05).Gastric nitric oxide, mucin, sulfhydryl, hydrogen peroxide and H + /K + -ATPase activities were significantly different when compared with ulcerated untreated control (CU).When the same parameters were used in comparison with the normal control (CN), values obtained for haematological and plasma biochemical variables were not significantly different across all G. lucidum treatment groups.The histopathological analysis of the stomach tissues revealed that there were marked ulcer inhibitions.G. lucidum treatment group demonstrated blood enhancing and gastro-protective behavior through predominant antioxidant activities.The implications of these findings were discussed.