Biological activities of the lignicolous fungus Meripilus giganteus (Pers.: Pers.) Karst.

Crude extracts (methanolic-ME andwater-WE) of the fungus Meripilus giganteus (Pers.: Pers.) Karst. were analyzed for their antioxidative, antibacterial, cytotoxic, neurotoxic, and hemolytic activities using tests in vitro. The highest scavenging activity was exhibited by WE on OH• radicals, showing a 50% effective concentration (EC50) at 292.83±2.5 μg/ml and ferric-reducing ability at 14.24±2.9 mg eq of ascorbic acid per g of dried extract (mg/g).An antibacterial effect was detected mostly against Gram-positive strains of bacteria. Toxicity assays exhibited higher effects for ME, reaching EC50=403.43±5.8 μg/ml against estrogen-dependent breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7); 50% hemolytic activity at a concentration of 30±0.03 μg/ml against erythrocytes; andEC50=4.5±0.05 mg/ml for acetyl cholinesterase-inhibitory activity. These results suggest possible use of this fungus as a new source of pharmaceuticals