This study aimed to isolate, purify, and characterize a potential thermophilic cellulase-producing bacterium from the Himalayan soil. Eleven thermophilic bacteria were isolated, and the strain PANG L was found to be the most potent cellulolytic producer. Morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular characterization identified PANG L as Bacillus licheniformis. This is the first study on the isolation of thermostable cellulase-producing Bacillus licheniformis from the Himalayan soil. This bacterium was processed for the production of cellulase enzyme. The optimum conditions for cellulase production were achieved at 45C after 48h of incubation at pH 6.5 in media-containing carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and yeast extract as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, in a thermo-shaker at 100rpm. The enzyme was partially purified by 80 ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by dialysis, resulting in a 1.52-fold purification. The optimal activity of partially purified cellulase was observed at a temperature of 60C and pH 5. The cellulase enzyme was stable within the pH ranges of 35 and retained 67 of activity even at 55C. Cellulase activity was found to be enhanced in the presence of metal ions such as Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Ba²⁺. The enzyme showed the highest activity when CMC was used as a substrate, followed by cellobiose. The K_m and V_max values of the enzyme were 1.8mg/ml and 10.92μg/ml/min, respectively. The cellulase enzyme obtained from Bacillus licheniformis PANG L had suitable catalytic properties for use in industrial applications.

Ganoderma lucidum is widely known for its herbal remedial properties and high nutrient value. This study was conducted to examine the nutritional composition (fat, carbohydrates, proteins, crude fibers, ash, moisture and minerals), phytochemicals (phenolics, flavonoids, tannin, saponin, phytate, terpenoids, lycopene, and β-carotene), antioxidants and antimicrobial activity of G. lucidum. In our study, G. lucidum Philippine strain was cultured on Potato Dextrose Agar, cultivated in a sawdust and rice bran substrate and harvested for the nutritional and phytochemical studies. The mushroom was identified as G. lucidum based on sequence analysis using the BLAST database. The nutritional content analysis showed that G. lucidum contains protein (10.53%), carbohydrates (20.26%), fat (1.32%), moisture (8.56%), crude fiber (7.81%), and ash (4.97%). The presence of copper (0.133 ± 0.003 mg/g), iron (0.059 ± 0.013 mg/g), manganese (0.022 ± 0.002 mg/g) and zinc (0.030 ± 0.001 mg/g) was observed in the sample. The mushroom also had phenolics (544.04 ± 0.07 mg GAE/100g), flavonoids (194.11 ± 0.04 mg QAE/100g), tannin (1275 ± 0.05 TAE mg/100g), lycopene (1.29 ± 0.06 mg carotenoids/g), β-carotene (2.98 ± 0.02 mg carotenoids/g), saponin (130.27 ± 0.04 mg/100g diosgenin), phytate (96.23 ± 0.03 mg/100g phytic acid) and terpenoid (3.4%). The antioxidant activity (IC50) was found to be 154.8 μg/ml. However, the sample did not show any antimicrobial activity at tested concentrations. Based on the findings of phytochemical and nutritional analysis, G. lucidum seems to be a good source of nutrients and antioxidants.