The present study focused on the mushroom Ganoderma, which has been used in Eastern countries for centuries as a food and medicinal source. Specifically, the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma applanatum from the Kerala Forest Research Institute in Thirussur, Kerala, India, were analyzed for their nutritional and medicinal properties. The methanolic extracts of G. applanatum were used to examine secondary metabolites and proximate profiles, revealing the presence of various phytochemicals such as terpenoids, phenolics, glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, and saponins. Further analysis revealed the presence of significant amounts of calcium, sodium, phosphorus, and manganese. The compounds were characterized using chromatographic analysis, FTIR, and GC-MS, which revealed potential therapeutic compounds with C-H and C-O bonds in the amide group, β-glycosides, and C-C/C-O vibrations of phenolic substances. Mushroom extract at a concentration of 100 µg mL⁻¹ exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against various pathogens. This study suggests that G. applanatum has a rich biochemical composition and pharmacological potential, making it a promising candidate for drug development and traditional medicine, and contributes valuable insights into its diverse therapeutic applications.

The present study reports biosynthesis and characterization of Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and its influence on seed germination in the pulse crop, green gram (Vigna radiata). The ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized through the co-precipitation of Zinc acetate with sodium hydroxide vermiwash obtained from leaf litter compost of Earthworm, Eudrilus eugineae. The UV- Visible spectrum of ZnO NPs shows an absorption peak at 366 nm with the band gap of 3.54eV. The XRD study reveals that the synthesized ZnO Nps are of the hexagonal structure with the average crystalline size of 30nm. The FTIR study confirms the interaction of ZnO Nps with specific functional groups of enzymes presented in the Eudrilus eugineae compost earthworms. SEM study shows the formation of ZnO as agglomeration of nano rods like morphology having the width of 65nm and the length of 213nm. The EDAX study confirms the presence of Zinc and Oxygen. The TEM and SAD pattern also revels that the prepared ZnO NPs are having the rod like morphology and having the width and length of 3nm and 23nm respectively. The seed germination of green gram (V.radiata) using different concentrations of ZnO NPs also studied and the detailed results are presented and discussed.