Investigation of efflux pump inhibitory properties of some macrofungi extracts

Antibiotic resistance is an increasingly prevalent global public health concern, particularly associated with the misuse and overuse of antibiotics. One of the mechanisms by which bacteria develop resistance is through efflux pumps, which expel antibiotics from the cell, thereby reducing treatment efficacy. In this study, the potential of extracts obtained from several macrofungal species to inhibit efflux pump activity was investigated. Extracts prepared from Pleurotus ostreatus, Lentinus edodes, Ganoderma lucidum, Auricularia polytricha, Coriolus versicolor, and Lactarius salmonicolor were tested against resistant bacterial strains, including Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13882, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 51299, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 35032, clinical isolate Escherichia coli 1200740 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. The results revealed that the mushroom extracts exhibited antibacterial activity; notably, Ganoderma lucidum demonstrated significant inhibition against Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 51299 at concentrations as low as 64 µg/mL.