Phenolic-Rich Wild Edible Macrofungi: Antimicrobial Activity and Antioxidant Potential

This study evaluated the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities and chemical properties of four wild edible macrofungi-<i>Tuber aestivum</i> (Wulfen) Spreng., <i>Terfezia claveryi</i> Chatin, <i>Agaricus arvensis</i> Schaeff. and <i>Bovistella utriformis</i> (Bull.) Demoulin & Rebriev-collected from different regions of Türkiye, with particular emphasis on the role of phenolic compounds. Methanol and hexane extracts were assessed for antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative, multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial strains, and <i>Candida albicans</i> using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. Total phenolic content (TPC) was determined, and antioxidant capacities were evaluated using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), and CUPRAC (cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity) assays. The chemical profiles of hexane extracts were characterized by GC-MS analysis, whereas methanol extracts were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Methanol extracts with high content of phenolic compounds exhibited markedly higher antimicrobial activity than hexane extracts, especially against Gram-positive bacteria. <i>B. utriformis</i> and <i>A. arvensis</i> displayed the highest phenolic contents (29.61 ± 0.6 and 27.14 ± 0.59 mg GAE/g DW, respectively) and antioxidant activities, revealing a strong positive correlation between TPC and antioxidant capacity. LC-MS/MS analysis revealed catechin, cinnamic acid, and caffeic acid as prominent phenolic constituents, highlighting the role of polyphenols in the observed bioactivity. GC-MS profiling predominantly identified fatty acid methyl esters, particularly linoleic and oleic acids, together with minor phenolic derivatives, suggesting a possible synergistic interaction contributing to the overall biological potential. The results highlight phenolic-rich macrofungi as valuable natural sources of antioxidant and antimicrobial agents with potential applications.