Phytochemical Analysis and Antimicrobial Activity of Ganoderma lucidum Against Selected Bacteria and Fungi of Medical Importance

Abstract Introduction:Ganoderma lucidum, a medicinal mushroom widely studied for its bioactive properties, holds promise for antimicrobial applications. This study aimed to identify G. lucidum samples collected from Osun States, Nigeria, and evaluate their antimicrobial potential, bioactive compound profile and the molecular characterization. Mushroom samples collected during the rainy season of June 2024, were morphological and molecular identification using DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and genome sequencing. Extracts were prepared using hot water and methanol, and bioactive compounds were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Antimicrobial activity was assessed using the agar well diffusion method against bacterial and fungal strains, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS. BLAST analysis of showed strong alignments with multiple Ganodermasp.with Ganoderma lucidum showing the highest similarity with 99.55%. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed its close evolutionary relationship with G. lucidum and the ITS sequence was identified as AS_ITS1_C06_09. GC-MS profiling identified bioactive compounds with antimicrobial and therapeutic potential. Antimicrobial assays demonstrated significant inhibitory effects, particularly from methanol extracts. These findings support the pharmaceutical relevance of G. lucidum and its potential applications in antimicrobial formulations. This study highlights its potential as a source of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial properties, for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.