Planta Med 2010; 76 - P409
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264707

Taxonomy, occurrence, phytochemical evaluation and biological activity of selected basidiomycetes from Yemen

M Al-Fatimi 1, H Kreisel 2, U Lindequist 3
  • 1Faculty of Pharmacy, Aden University, Department of Pharmacognosy, Aden, Maalla, Madram Street (P.O. Box 5411) Aden, Maalla, Yemen
  • 2Institute of Microbiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-str. 17, 17487 Greifswald, Germany
  • 3Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-str. 17, 17487 Greifswald, Germany

The first scientific collection of basidiomycetes in Yemen was carried out in the time from 1880 till 1889. After this date there has been no further scientific collection of basidiomycetes in Yemen. We collected more than 40 species between 1999 and 2007 and determined their taxonomic classification [1,2,3]. In total, 39 taxa of larger fungi (macromycetes: 36 basidiomycetes and 3 ascomycetes), including former records from literature, were enumerated and annotated from the territory of Yemen. 22 taxa have been collected in recent times; from which 16 were new records for Yemen. Dichloromethane, methanol and aqueous extracts of 23 selected basidiomycetes species fruiting bodies were screened in vitro for their antibacterial activities against three Gram-positive bacteria (Staphyloccocus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus flavus) and against two Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), as well as for their cytotoxic and antioxidant activity [4,5]. The highest antibacterial activity was shown by extracts from Agaricus sp. (type 1), Coriolopsis caperata, Ganoderma colossus, Ganoderma resinaceum, Phellorinia herculea and Tulostoma obesum [4]. The results confirm the potential of Yemeni mushrooms as source of biologically active compounds.

References: 1. Al-Fatimi, M. (2001) Isolierung und Charakterisierung antibiotisch wirksamer Verbindungen aus Ganoderma pfeiffferi Bres. und aus Podaxis pistillaris (L.: Pers.) Morse. – Dissertation Universität Greifswald.

2. Kreisel H., Al-Fatimi M. (2004) Feddes Repertorium 115: 7–8.

3. Kreisel H., Al-Fatimi M. (2008) Feddes Repertorium 119: 5–6.

4. Al-Fatimi, M. et al. (2005). Pharmazie 60: 776–780.

5. Al-Fatimi, M. et al. (2006) Evidence-based Complementary and Aalternative Medicine 3 (1), 87–92.