Os fungos basidiomicetos do gênero Polyporus são fonte de metabólitos secundários de interesse medicinal como os compostos antibacterianos. Como estas substâncias são produzidas em pequenas quantidades pelos fungos, o estudo de condições de cultivo in vitro que otimizem sua produção, é de fundamental importância. Os efeitos da glicose e lactose, pH e agitação na concentração da biomassa e na velocidade específica de crescimento realizada pelo basidiomiceto Polyporus tricholoma foram investigados. O pH inicial (4.5, 6.5 e 8.5) foi autoregulado para pH 5.5, e a agitação aumentou o crescimento micelial e a velocidade específica de crescimento. A maior concentração das fontes de carbono (4%) incrementou a produção de biomassa. A concentração de lactose e a ausência de agitação foram determinantes na produção dos metabólitos antibacterianos. A caracterização da substância antibacteriana por CG-EM mostrou como componente majoritário o isodrimenediol, produzido pelo fungo Polyporus tricholoma, com atividade contra Staphylococcus aureus.

Basidiomycete fungi of the Polyporus genus are a source of secondary metabolites which are of medicinal interest as antibacterial compounds. As these substances are produced in a small amount by the fungi, the study of the cultivation conditions in vitro that could possibly optimize their production seems of major importance. The effects of glucose and lactose, pH and agitation on biomass concentration and on the specific growth rate caused by the basidiomycete Polyporus tricholoma were investigated. The initial pH (4.5, 6.5 and 8.5) was autoregulated at pH 5.5, and the agitation increased the mycelial growth and the specific growth rate. The high concentration of carbon sources (4%) increased biomass production. The lactose concentration and the absence of agitation were determinant in the production of antibacterial metabolites. The characterization of the antibacterial substance by GC-MS indicated a major compound, isodrimenediol, produced by the fungus Polyporus tricholoma with activity against Staphylococcus aureus.

In this study, we screened sixty medicinal plant species from the Brazilian savanna ("cerrado") that could contain useful compounds for the control of tropical diseases. The plant selection was based on existing ethnobotanic information and interviews with local healers. Plant extracts were screened for: (a) molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria glabrata, (b) toxicity to brine shrimp (Artemia salina L.), (c) antifungal activity in the bioautographic assay with Cladosporium sphaerospermum and (d) antibacterial activity in the agar diffusion assay against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Forty-two species afforded extracts that showed some degree of activity in one or more of these bioassays.

Entre três estirpes de Pycnoporus sanguineus, MIP 89007 produziu maior quantidade de cinabarina que MIP 95001 e MIP 95002. A atividade antimicrobiana dessa substância foi testada contra 11 espécies de bactérias associadas a fontes alimentares. Bacillus cereus e Leuconostoc plantarum foram os microrganismos inibidos com a menor concentração de cinabarina (0.0625 mg/ml), e Klebsiella pneumoniae foi a espécie menos sensível (>4.0 mg/ml).

Among three strains of Pycnoporus sanguineus, MIP 89007 produced more cinnabarin than MIP 95001 and MIP 95002. The antimicrobial activity of cinnabarin was tested against 11 species of bacteria isolated from food. Bacillus cereus and Leuconostoc plantarum were the most sensitive to cinnabarin, being inhibited by 0.0625 mg/ml. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the least sensitive (>4.0 mg/ml).