Effect of different substrates on bioactive compounds of Shiitake Mushroom

Bioactive potential of shiitake mushroom extract

Abstract

Lentinula edodes (Shiitake mushroom) is a well-known culinary and medicinal fungus that is prized for its nutritional content and healing properties. This study examined the influence of four substrates—wheat straw, poplar, sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo), and mixed sawdust—on the antibacterial and antioxidant characteristics of Shiitake mushrooms. Fruiting bodies from each treatment were desiccated, pulverized, and extracted using ethyl acetate. Extracts were subjected to phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial testing against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, as well as antioxidant assays. The agar well diffusion method showed that mushrooms grown on mixed sawdust had the most antibacterial action, followed by poplar and wheat straw. Sheesham substrate had the least activity. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) results showed that mixed sawdust extracts had the strongest effect against microbes. The combined sawdust extracts exhibited the best antioxidant potential, as shown by the DPPH radical scavenging and β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching assays. They also had the lowest IC₅₀ values. Mixed sawdust samples had the highest total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), which were both linked to antibacterial and antioxidant activity. The study reveals that substrate composition greatly influences Shiitake mushroom bioactivity, with mixed sawdust being most effective, underscoring its potential for medicinal and nutraceutical applications.