Calocybe indica extract inhibits the growth and enzyme production of microbes that impair the healing of burn wounds

Aims:The need for antimicrobial agents that could prevent the invasive spread of microbes that infect burn wounds directs the aim of the study.The edible mushroom Calocybe indica, with well-known biological activities, is explored to understand the role of the three bacteria, Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterococcus faecalis and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, which are prevalent among the burn wounds, known for their tissue invasive properties and multidrug resistance. Methodology and results:The aqueous extract of C. indica was screened for antibacterial activity against the test microbes.The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the antibacterial aqueous extract were determined.The effect of the extract on the specific activity of the tissue-degrading enzymes protease and hyaluronidase was studied.The MIC of C. indica aqueous extract against the test organisms was found to be 125, 62.5 and 62.5 µg for S. pyogenes, S. maltophilia and E. faecalis, respectively.The specific activity of protease was reduced by 6, 1.3 and 3 folds, and hyaluronidase was reduced by 4.5, 2.8 and 4.1, respectively, in the order of test microbes mentioned above. Conclusion, significance and impact of study:The C. indica aqueous extracts with the potential to inhibit growth and retard invasive enzyme production in the microbes infecting burn wounds could be a significant therapeutic strategy in the management of clinical burn wounds to prevent the progression of the tissue damage.The bioactive component of the extract could further be identified analytically and formulated efficiently to enhance therapeutic applications.