Date of Award
2012
First Advisor
David Myers
Second Advisor
Donald Roeder
Third Advisor
William Dunbar
Abstract
Six fungi, Piptoporus betulinus, Cerrena unicolor, Clavulina sp., Hygrocybe cantharellus, and two currently unidentified fungi species, all indigenous to Berkshire County, were separated into several components and each evaluated for total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and antibacterial properties. Total phenolic content was measured through the gallic acid concentration test using gallic acid and Folin-Ciocalteu’s reagent. Antioxidant activity was measured using 1,1-Diphenyl-2-dipicrylhydrazyl and compared to Vitamin C, which acted as the positive control for the assay. Antibacterial properties were examined using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion assay, placing the fungi extracts in contact with three well known bacteria, Stayphlococcus aureus¸ Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa¸ grown on Mueller-Hinton agar. The fungi extracts demonstrated no antibacterial activity and generally weak antioxidant activity although the three samples of P. betulinus exhibited significant phenolic and antioxidant activity. The results and the research provide more insight and knowledge to the many fungi present in nature, opening the door for further exploration and research.
Recommended Citation
Deng, William, "Mushrooms: An Evaluation of Fungi Indigenous to Berkshire County" (2012). Senior Theses. 645.
https://digitalcommons.bard.edu/sr-theses/645
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