Bioactive potential of Macrocybe titans extracts: antioxidant activity, antimicrobial effects, and phenolic composition

This study investigated the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of extracts obtained from the giant mushroom Macrocybe titans. Fungal isolates were identified through molecular and phylogenetic analyses based on ITS rDNA sequencing. Extracts were prepared using aqueous and organic solvents (acetone, isopropanol, ethanol, and methanol) through different extraction methods. Among these, the aqueous extract (AgSk) showed the highest extraction efficiency (44.8%) and demonstrated remarkable antimicrobial potential, as evidenced by its low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values. Antioxidant activity was also detected across the extracts, further supporting their bioactivity. Chemical composition analysis revealed the presence of phenolic compounds and flavonoids, including gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, catechin, and caffeic acid, as identified by UHPLC-DAD. Together, these findings highlight M. titans as a promising source of bioactive molecules with potential applications in pharmaceutical formulations and functional foods. The results contribute to expanding the knowledge of unexplored fungal species and support the valorization of natural products as alternatives for the development of antimicrobial and antioxidant agents.