Infections present a significant global health challenge due to increasing resistance to conventional antibiotics. While most existing antibiotics originate from microorganisms, alternative sources like mushrooms remain largely unexplored. This study investigated the potential antimicrobial properties of extracts from two popular medicinal mushrooms, turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) and reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), against Staphylococcusaureus. The primary objective was to determine and compare the effects of each mushroom extract individually and in combination. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was measured using the broth dilution method in 96-well plates. HPLC was utilized to determine the bioactive components in each mushroom extract. The alcohol extracts of turkey tail and aqueous extracts of reishi used in this study exhibited various degrees of antimicrobial activity against S.aureus within the first 3 h of treatment and continued until 24 h in a concentration-dependent manner. However, alcohol extract of turkey tail exhibited a stronger antimicrobial activity than aqueous extract of reishi mushroom. Furthermore, the results indicated that the combined reishi and turkey tail extracts exhibited a synergistic effect, demonstrating significantly stronger antimicrobial activity against S.aureus compared to either extract used alone. This synergistic potential, possibly attributable to specific phenolic compounds identified in the extracts, suggests that combining these mushroom extracts could offer a novel approach for treating infectious diseases.
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