Bioactivity assessment and metabolic profiling of Phellinus gilvus. A pathway to novel therapeutics

Phellinus gilvus has potent antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, but the exact bioactive components are unknown. The study investigated P. gilvus and unveiled six novel compounds as its principal antimicrobial agents. Hexane fraction exhibited antibacterial activity against S. aureus (19 ± 0.57 mm) and B. subtilis (17 ± 0.57 mm) at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 31.25 µg/mL. The ethyl acetate fraction showed antifungal activity with inhibitory zones of 21 ± 1.52 mm against C. albicans, 15 ± 1.00 mm against A. niger, and 17 ± 1.00 mm against A. flavus. Most extracts possessed antioxidant potential with a maximum percent of 78 ± 1.00% by the ethyl acetate fraction. Cytotoxic and hemolytic activity was within an acceptable range and confirmed the safety profile for the fractions. The metabolic profile revealed polysaccharides, quinones, and triterpenes, emphasizing the potential of P. gilvus as a promising source for developing novel antifungal and antibacterial agents.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-026-02199-5.