Investigation of potential antibacterial properties of methanol extracts from fungus Ganoderma applanatum

In this study we searched for antibacterial compounds in methanol extracts of three layers (tube layer, context and cutis) of Ganoderma applanatum fruit body against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6051 as a gram-positive bacterium and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae DPIC 219 as gram-negative bacteria. We found antibacterial properties in all three layers only against gram-negative bacteria. The fractions were isolated and purified by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography. After purification, four major compounds - A, B, C and D - were tested for antibacterial properties, and B and D were found to possess antibacterial properties. The results of TLC and spectral data, including mass spectra and (1)H NMR of compounds B and C, showed that they were saturated fatty acids and compound D was palmitic acid (hexadecanoic acid) (16:0).