Determination of bioactive metabolite contents and biological activities of pleurotus pulmonarius isolates

Pleurotus species are used by different societies for nutritional and medicinal purposes because they contain various bioactive metabolites such as fatty acids, polysaccharides and phenolic compounds. In this study, the glucan, ergothioneine and lovastatin contents of totally 20 Pleurotus pulmonarius isolates produced by mushroom cultivation in bottle culture were determined. In addition, biological activity studies were carried out using 3 isolates each that selected for their high glucan, ergothioneine, and lovastatin contents. As a result of the analyses, PP23 isolate stands out in terms of beta glucan content (46,116 g/100g), and PP63 isolate stands out in terms of ergothioneine and lovastatin contents (2,071 mg/g and 0,302 mg/g, respectively). In addition, isolate PP23 with high beta glucan had prebiotic activity on Lactobacillus strains; isolates PP61, PP63 and PP139 had antifungal activity against Candida albicans, and isolate PP63, containing high ergothioneine, had antioxidant activity. It is thought that PP23 and PP63 may have commercial potential in the production of beta glucan, ergothioneine and lovastatin, which are not yet produced in Türkiye. Besides, local Pleurotus pulmonarius isolates containing bioactive metabolites is promising for production potential.