Biotransformation of standard antibiotics by Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom and in vitro antibacterial activity of resulted metabolites

Abstract

Background: Research and development of the new antibacterial agents are among the strategized measures to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In the recent decades, biotransformation has been demonstrated as an alternative and effective approach for scavenging the new molecules. There is a high probability of obtaining active metabolites through biotransformation of known compounds possessing antibacterial activities. This study intended to search for new compounds by biotransformation of ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin antibiotics using Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom.Method: Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom culture was incorporated with antibiotics and incubated for 12 days. The mixture was extracted and analysed by using Thin layer Chromatography (TLC) method to identify newly formed compounds. The TLC chromatograms were then subjected to agar overly bioautography to determine antibacterial activity of the new compounds. Results: Ceftriaxone and Ciprofloxacin antibiotics were metabolized by P. ostreatus to possibly new metabolites. The TLC analysis indicated that ceftriaxone was metabolized to give three new spots and ciprofloxacin gave only one new spot which infer the formation of new compounds from biotransformation by P. ostreatus mushroom. Bioautography showed the new spots from biotransformation of ceftriaxone to be active against S. aureus both standard and clinical isolates as well as active against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. The new spot from biotransformation of ciprofloxacin was only active to standard of E. coli.Conclusion: P. ostreatus mushroom has the potential to bio transform ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin giving antibacterial active metabolites. This shows biotransformation can be considered an alternative tool for searching of new drugs.