Molecular Characterization of Coprinopsis sp. Based on ITS rDNA Analysis and Evaluation of Its Antibacterial Activity

The present study, conducted in Karbala Governorate, central Iraq, aimed to identify and characterize large wild fungi belonging to the genus Coprinopsis. Field-collected specimens were found to be Coprinopsis sp. with affinity to Coprinopsis cinerea, based initially on detailed morphological and microscopic characteristics and further supported by molecular analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA through comparison with related sequences available in the GenBank database. BLAST analysis revealed minor nucleotide variations, and the obtained sequence was deposited in the NCBI GenBank database under accession number PX247457.1. These findings contribute to the limited records of Coprinopsis species in Iraq. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of the ethanolic extract of the fruiting bodies demonstrated considerable metabolic diversity, with carbohydrates, proteins, terpenes, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, and flavonoids detected, whereas tannins were absent. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed the presence of functional groups including hydroxyl groups, aliphatic chains, amide linkages, and carboxyl groups, indicating the presence of diverse ethanol-soluble metabolites. Furthermore, the ethanolic extract exhibited inhibitory activity against the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, while no inhibitory activity was observed against the Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes.