Aqueous extracts of Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus pulmonarius, and Pleurotus sajor-caju: Antifungal activity and inhibition of exoenzyme production by Candida albicans

This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of aqueous extracts of Lentinula edodes (SHI) , Pleurotus pulmonarius (PUL), and Pleurotus sajor-caju (PSC) on the growth of eight yeast species and the exoenzyme production by Candida species after exposure to the extracts, which were prepared with the cold extraction methodology and tested against yeasts by the broth microdilution method. Proteinase and phospholipase were produced in vitro with the plate assay method using bovine serum albumin and egg yolk, respectively. The antifungal activity of the filtered mushroom extracts at different dilutions was confirmed against non-albicans Candida and Rhodotorula species. Exposing Candida isolates to extracts significantly reduced phospholipase production (p < 0.001). The antifungal activity against yeasts varied among different mushroom extracts. Moreover, SHI and PUL extracts may modulate the activity of phospholipase produced by Candida albicans . However, further studies are required to evaluate the inhibitory effect and its mechanism, as well as complementary studies with a higher number of samples tested.