Screening of selected basidiomycetes for inhibitory activity on Clostridium histolyticum collagenase and human leukocyte elastase

Collagenase and elastase play a critical role in the degradation of connective tissue. Aqueous and dichloromethane extracts of 15 Basidiomycetes were screened for their ability to inhibit the activity of collagenase and elastase. Collagenase (EC 3.4.24.3) was not inhibited by aqueous extracts, but by dichloromethane extracts in concentrations of 200 microg/mL. For seven extracts an IC(50) less than 200 microg/mL could be observed. Elastase (3.4.21.37) was inhibited by both aqueous and dichloromethane extracts of the Basidiomycetes, with the aqueous extracts active at concentrations of 200 microg/mL. Five extracts inhibited strongly, with an IC(50) 2-20 microg/mL. Except for four, all dichloromethane extracts inhibited the enzyme in concentrations of 2 microg/mL, nine of them very strongly at about 90%.