Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity and Acute Toxicity of Crude Extracts From the Wild Edible Mushrooms Cantharellus veraecrucis, Cantharellus violaceovinosus, and Turbinellus floccosus.

Many phytopathogenic and human pathogenic microorganisms have increased their resistance to conventional antibiotics and fungicides, which is why the most recent research has focused on exploring new strategies for their management and control. One of these strategies is the search for new natural compounds present in wild edible macrofungi, which in early research have shown evidence of having bioactive properties and high nutritional value, profitability, and biodegradability, among other benefits. The present study is aimed at determining the antibacterial and antifungal activity and acute toxicity of crude extracts obtained from fruit bodies of the wild mushrooms Cantharellus veraecrucis, Cantharellus violaceovinosus, and Turbinellus floccosus. The results revealed that the three fungal species have antibacterial activity, where the most notable species was Turbinellus floccosus, with an MIC = 1000  μg/mL against Enterococcus faecalis, while C. violaceovinosus and C. veraecrucis showed an MIC = 62.5  μg/mL, MBC = 250  μg/mL, and MIC = 250  μg/mL against Clavibacter michiganensis, respectively. Additionally, Turbinellus floccosus inhibited the phytopathogenic fungus Acremonium strictum, with a PIMG% = 62.20, and also exhibited a PIMG% = 58.73 (p ≤ 0.05) against Colletotrichum asianum. Regarding toxicity, the three fungal extracts showed moderate toxicity within an LC₅₀ range of 100-500 μg/mL against Artemia salina. This study provides a first approximation to the potential pharmaceutical and/or agricultural use of extracts of these wild edible mushrooms. The results obtained open the possibility of testing these extracts in plant models (in vivo), contributing to the development of future biodegradable pesticides of natural origin.