ABSTRACT:
Edible mushrooms are the fungi fruiting bodies which have high protein content along with several vitamins and
minerals. Mushrooms have medicinal value in inhibiting tumour growth and enhancing immune system. The
antimicrobial activity of 90% ethyl acetate and antioxidant activity of fruiting bodies of mushrooms of four edible
mushrooms were investigated. The antimicrobial activity of four mushroom samples was tested against different
bacteria using agar well diffusion method with ampicillin as positive standard reference to determine the sensivity
of the bacterial strains. Two mushrooms samples showed significant inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus
aureus which is a normal inhabitant in humans. The antioxidant activity, peroxidase, number of ascorbate oxidase
units and catalase activity were significant more with Agaricus bisporus than the other edible mushrooms used in
the study. All the activities measured are to find out for the presence of reactive oxygen species which play an
important role in cell death and signal transduction.