Evaluating the antimicrobial activity of maitake mushroom extract against Staphylococcus epidermidis

Antibiotic resistance poses a severe global health threat, necessitating the exploration of novel antimicrobial therapies. Mushrooms have long been recognized for their antimicrobial properties, and their extracts have shown promising health-promoting effects in various studies. Given this potential, we focused our attention on the Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa), a species known for its medicinal properties. In this study, we aimed to determine the antimicrobial effect of Maitake mushroom extract against Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis), a common causative agent of hospital-acquired infections with enhanced antibiotic resistance. We hypothesized that Maitake mushroom extract would exhibit significant antimicrobial activity against S. epidermidis. To test this hypothesis, we conducted disc diffusion assays using different concentrations of Maitake extract and compared their effects to a standard antibiotic, tetracycline. Our results demonstrated that Maitake extract possesses potent antimicrobial activity against S. epidermidis, with higher concentrations showing inhibition comparable to tetracycline. The extract exhibited a dose-dependent antimicrobial effect, with the higher concentration producing larger zones of inhibition. Our findings suggest that Maitake mushroom extract could potentially be developed as a novel natural antimicrobial agent to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria, providing safer and more environmentally friendly therapeutic options to address the growing concern of antibiotic resistance.