The lack of information on the chemistry of higher fungi in Paraguay and the search for new sources of secondary metabolites motivated the chemical study of four wild species of the Ganodermataceae family and the comparison with a commercial species cultivated under laboratory conditions. Qualitative identification of secondary metabolites as well as a quantification of phenolic compounds content and antioxidant potential of ethanolic extracts was carried out of four wild species: Cristataspora flavipora, two specimens of different phylogenetic clades of Ganoderma australe (clade 1 and clade 2), G. martinicense, G. multicornum and a strain of G. sessile E47. Qualitative chemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, phenolic compounds, sterols and terpenes. Significant variations were noted in metabolite content and antioxidant potential throughout the studied species. The bests biological profile found were of G. australe clade 1 with a concentration of 96.7 ± 0.362 mg.(GAE) g-1, antioxidant compounds content of 139.25 ± 0.32 mg.g-1 AAE and activity percentage of 96.87%; and G. australe clade 2 with 92.6 ± 0,350 mg GAE.g-1, 153.62 ± 3.36 mg.g-1 AAE and 95.23%.

As a continuation of the study of the biologically active compounds of native neotropical Ganoderma species in Paraguay, the content of total phenolic compounds, total antioxidants and percentage of antioxidant activity of the fractions extracted with ethanol, hexane, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate and water of mycelium in liquid medium, wild and cultivated fruiting bodies of G. tuberculosum, were analyzed. Biologically active compounds were highest in the diethyl ether fractions of wild fruiting bodies, 126.49 ± 4.19 mg. (GAE) g-1 (milligrams of Gallic acid equivalent per grams of crude extract), antioxidant compounds content of 130.94 ± 5.302 mg .g-1 AAE (milligrams of Ascorbic acid equivalent per grams of crude extract) and activity percentage of 70.93% compared to 67.39 ± 1.5 mg. (GAE) g-1, 48.37 ± 0.73.g-1 AAE and 45.63% antioxidant activity. According to the values obtained in the present study, the fruiting body of Ganoderma tuberculosum is a promising source of antioxidant compounds for the food industry.

To further knowledge of the biological activity of native neotropical fungal species, this study aimed to determine the chemical composition and microbiological activity of Hornodermoporus martius. Ethanol, hexane, diethyl ether, and ethyl acetate fractions and the water residue were analyzed and resulted in a total phenolic compound content between 13 and 63 mg of gallic acid equivalents per gram of crude extract. The total antioxidants ranged between 3 and 19 mg of ascorbic acid equivalents per gram of crude extract, and the percentage of antioxidant activity was determined to be between 6 and 25%. A preliminary profile of compounds is provided for the first time for the species; the results from the nonpolar fraction showcased the presence of saturated and unsaturated acids, fatty alcohol, sterols, and cis-vaccenic acid. Our findings also revealed antimicrobial properties from compounds within the hexane and diethyl ether fractions at concentrations of 1 mg mL^-1, which inhibited the growth of certain gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. For the first time in academic literature, our work analyzed and documented the chemical characteristics and microbial properties of H. martius, suggesting potential for medicinal applications.