Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant, anticholinesterase, antiproliferative, and antimicrobial activities of Lactarius salmonicolor species. Antioxidant capacity was quantitatively determined using Rel Assay commercial kits, and total antioxidant status (TAS) was 3.844 mmol/L, total oxidant status (TOS) was 10.452 µmol/L, and oxidative stress index (OSI) was 0.272. In the anticholinesterase activity assay, the mushroom extract inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) with IC50 values of 58.43 and 88.45 µg/mL, respectively. In antiproliferative activity evaluations, L. salmonicolor extract reduced cell viability in the A549 human lung cancer cell line in a dose-dependent manner and showed a significant cytotoxic effect at high concentrations. In antimicrobial tests, the mushroom extract showed notable antifungal activity against Candida glabrata and C. krusei strains with a low MIC value of 50 µg/mL. In addition, it exhibited remarkable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus MRSA strains with a MIC value of 100 µg/mL. However, its activity against Gram-negative bacteria was comparatively limited. Overall, the findings indicated that L. salmonicolor is a potential biological source that can be evaluated in research for the development of natural antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and neuroprotective agents with its multifaceted biological activities.