Integrative taxonomy and metabolite profiling reveal functional divergence among wild edible Termitomyces from...

Termitomyces species are termite-associated fungi that play essential roles in lignocellulose degradation and nutrient cycling and represent a promising source of bioactive metabolites. However, comparative understanding of metabolite diversity and its potential contribution to functional variation among species remains limited. This study investigated three wild edible Termitomyces species (Termitomyces intermedius, Termitomyces microcarpus, and Termitomyces eurrhizus) from Indonesia using an integrative approach combining morphological characterization, ITS rDNA phylogeny, proximate analysis, metabolite profiling, and bioactivity assays. Extracts prepared using water, methanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane were evaluated for antioxidant, antibacterial, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. The methanolic extract of T. eurrhizus exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity, whereas the water extract of T. intermedius showed the highest ABTS radical scavenging activity. The strongest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was observed in the n-hexane extract of T. eurrhizus. Antibacterial activity was generally limited among the tested extracts. Metabolite profiling revealed distinct species-specific metabolite profiles, including ergothioneine, anthranilic acid, hypoxanthine, p-coumaric acid, anthraquinones, and γ-linolenic acid. These metabolite profiles may contribute to the observed functional differences among Termitomyces species. This study provides the first integrative characterization of wild edible Termitomyces from the IPB University Forest, Indonesia, providing a foundation for future research on functional foods and natural products.