Chemotaxonomic profiling of Penicillium setosum using high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-Q-ToF-MS)

Efficacy of Penicillium limosum Strain AK-7 Derived Bioactive Metabolites on Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Anticancer Activity against Human Ovarian Teratocarcinoma (PA-1) Cell Line

Natural metabolites from beneficial fungi were recognized for their potential to inhibit multidrug-resistant human and plant fungal pathogens. The present study describes the isolation, metabolite profiling, antibacterial, and antifungal, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of soil fungi. Among the 17 isolates, the AK-7 isolate was selected based on the primary screening. Further, the identification of isolate AK-7 was performed by 18S rRNA sequencing and identified as Penicillium limosum (with 99.90% similarity). Additionally, the ethyl acetate extract of the Penicillium limosum strain AK-7 (AK-7 extract) was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis, and the results showed different functional groups and bioactive metabolites. Consequently, a secondary screening of antibacterial activity by the agar well diffusion method showed significant antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial pathogens. The AK-7 extract exhibited notable antifungal activity by a food poisoning method and showed maximum inhibition of 77.84 ± 1.62%, 56.42 ± 1.27%, and 37.96 ± 1.84% against Cercospora canescens, Fusarium sambucinum and Sclerotium rolfsii phytopathogens. Consequently, the AK-7 extract showed significant antioxidant activity against DPPH and ABTS•+ free radicals with IC50 values of 59.084 μg/mL and 73.36 μg/mL. Further, the anticancer activity of the AK-7 extract against the human ovarian teratocarcinoma (PA-1) cell line was tested by MTT and Annexin V flow cytometry. The results showed a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability and exhibited apoptosis with an IC50 value of 82.04 μg/mL. The study highlights the potential of the Penicillium limosum strain AK-7 as a source of active metabolites and natural antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anticancer agent, and it could be an excellent alternative for pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors.

Chemodiversity and Anti-Leukemia Effect of Metabolites from Penicillium setosum CMLD 18

Penicillium setosum represents a Penicillium species recently described, with little up-to-date information about its metabolic and biological potential. Due to this scenario, we performed chemical and biological studies of P. setosum CMLD18, a strain isolated from Swinglea glutinosa (Rutaceae). HRMS-MS guided dereplication strategies and anti-leukemia assays conducted the isolation and characterization of six compounds after several chromatographic procedures: 2-chloroemodic acid (2), 2-chloro-1,3,8-trihydroxy-6- (hydroxymethyl)-anthraquinone (7), 7-chloroemodin (8), bisdethiobis(methylthio)acetylaranotine (9), fellutanine C (10), and 4-methyl-5,6-diihydro-2H-pyran-2-one (15). From the assayed metabolites, (10) induced cellular death against Kasumi-1, a human leukemia cell line, as well as good selectivity for it, displaying promising cytotoxic activity. Here, the correct NMR signal assignments for (9) are also described. Therefore, this work highlights more detailed knowledge about the P. setosum chemical profile as well as its biological potential, offering prospects for obtaining natural products with anti-leukemia capabilities.

Insights into metabolic and pharmacological profiling of Aspergillus ficuum through bioinformatics and experimental techniques

BACKGROUND

Recently, numerous novel bioactive fungal metabolites have been identified that possess broad therapeutic activities including anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antioxidant, and antitumor. The fungal mycochemicals as well as extracts have increased the interest of the scientific community in drug discovery research through a combination approach such as, molecular metabolic, pharmacological and computational techniques. Therefore, the natural fungus Aspergillus ficuum (A. ficuum) (FCBP-DNA-1266) was selected for metabolic and pharmacological profiling in this study.

RESULTS

The metabolic profile of A. ficuum was explored for the first time and revealed the presence of bioactive compounds such as choline sulfate, noruron, hydroxyvittatine, aurasperone D, cetrimonium, kurilensoside, heneicosane, nonadecane and eicosane. Similarly, a pharmacological screen of A. ficuum was performed for the first time in in vivo and in vitro models. Interestingly, both the ethyl acetate and n-hexane fractions of A. ficuum were found to be more active against Bacillus subtilis among five tested bacteria with their zone of inhibition (ZOI) values of 21.00 mm ±1.00 and 23.00 mm ±1.00, at a concentration of 150 μgmL^-1 respectively. Similarly, a significant decrease (P<0.001) and (P<0.01) in paw edema was observed in A. ficuum-treated animals at doses of 50 and 150 mgkg^-1, respectively, reflecting its potent anti-inflammatory effect. Furthermore, the docking results supported the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of A. ficuum. In addition, the crude extract demonstrated no acute toxicity and the highest percent radical scavenging was recorded for both n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts.

CONCLUSION

The metabolic profile of A. ficuum indicated the presence of biological relevant compounds. A. ficuum extract exhibited potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects supported by docking results. Furthermore, A. ficuum extract demonstrated the highest percentage of radical scavenging activity along with no acute toxicity.

Metabolic and pharmacological profiling of Penicillium claviforme by a combination of experimental and bioinformatic approaches

BACKGROUND

Penicillium produces a wide range of structurally diverse metabolites with significant pharmacological impacts in medicine and agriculture. For the first time, a complete metabolome of Penicillium claviforme (P. claviforme) (FBP-DNA-1205) was studied alongside pharmacological research in this study.

METHODS

The metabolic profile of P. claviforme fermented on Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB) was investigated in this work. The complete metabolomics studies of fungus were performed using GC-MS and LC-MS-QTOF techniques. An in vitro model was utilised to study the cytotoxic and antioxidant activities, while an in vivo model was employed to investigate the antinociceptive and acute toxicity activities. Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) software was used for molecular docking analysis.

RESULTS

GC-MS study showed the presence of alkanes, fatty acids, esters, azo and alcoholic compounds. Maculosin, obtain, phalluside, quinoline, 4,4'-diaminostilbene, funaltrexamine, amobarbital, and fraxetin were among the secondary metabolites identified using the LC-MS-QTOF technique. The n-hexane fraction of P. claviforme displayed significant cytotoxic activity in vitro, with an LD50 value of 92.22 µgml^-1. The antinociceptive effects in vivo were dose-dependent significantly (p < .001). Interestingly, during the 72 h of investigation, no acute toxicity was demonstrated. In addition, a docking study of tentatively identified metabolites against the inflammatory enzyme (COX-2) supported the antinociceptive effect in an in silico model.

CONCLUSION

Metabolic profile of P. claviforme shows the presence of biologically relevant compounds in ethyl acetate extract. In addition, P. claviforme exhibits substantial antioxidant and cytotoxic activities in an in vitro model as well as antinociceptive activity in an in vivo model. The antinociceptive action is also supported by a molecular docking study. This research has opened up new possibilities in the disciplines of mycology, agriculture, and pharmaceutics. Key messagesThe first time explored complete metabolome through GC-MS and LC-MS-QTOF.Both in vivo & in vitro pharmacological investigation of P. claviforme.In silico molecular docking of LC-MS-QTOF metabolites.

Citromycin Isolated from the Antarctic Marine-Derived Fungi, Sporothrix sp., Inhibits Ovarian Cancer Cell Invasion via Suppression of ERK Signaling

Recently, microorganisms and their metabolites in the Antarctic marine environment have attracted attention as useful sources for novel therapeutics, including anticancer drugs. Here, we investigated the effects of citromycin, isolated from the Antarctic marine-derived fungus, Sporothrix sp., on human ovarian cancer cells. Citromycin inhibited the migration and invasion of human ovarian cancer SKOV3 and A2780 cells, but had no cytotoxic activity against them. Additionally, it inhibited the expression of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and the activation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP9. Moreover, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-1/2 signaling was inhibited after citromycin treatment, and the ectopic expression of ERK negated the anti-invasive activity of citromycin. Our findings suggest that citromycin inhibits the migration and invasion of human ovarian cancer cells by downregulating the expression levels of EMT markers and MMP-2/9 via inhibition of the ERK1/2 pathway.

Recent Developments in Metabolomics Studies of Endophytic Fungi

Endophytic fungi are microorganisms that colonize living plants' tissues without causing any harm. They are known as a natural source of bioactive metabolites with diverse pharmacological functions. Many structurally different chemical metabolites were isolated from endophytic fungi. Recently, the increasing trends in human health problems and diseases have escalated the search for bioactive metabolites from endophytic fungi. The conventional bioassay-guided study is known as laborious due to chemical complexity. Thus, metabolomics studies have attracted extensive research interest owing to their potential in dealing with a vast number of metabolites. Metabolomics coupled with advanced analytical tools provides a comprehensive insight into systems biology. Despite its wide scientific attention, endophytic fungi metabolomics are relatively unexploited. This review highlights the recent developments in metabolomics studies of endophytic fungi in obtaining the global metabolites picture.

Diverse host-associated fungal systems as a dynamic source of novel bioactive anthraquinones in drug discovery: Current status and future perspectives

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Diversity and distribution of host-living fungi producing AQs in the terrestrial ecosystem are assembled.

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AQs biosynthesis and their SAR are elucidated to guide the approaches in novel drugs design and development.

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Several examples of true endophytic fungi producing AQs like their different host plants have been reported as interesting alternative sources of drugs.

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The review recapitulates the novel AQs with rare chemical skeleton that could open future venues for investigation of their biological activities.

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Lichens are assembled as unique source of several bioactive classes of AQs.

Background

Despite, a large number of bioactive anthraquinones (AQs) isolated from host-living fungi, only plant-derived AQs were introduced in the global consumer markets. Host-living fungi represents renewable and extendible resources of diversified metabolites to be exploited for bioactives production. Unique classes of AQs from fungi include halogenated and steroidal AQs, and absent from planta are of potential to explore for biological activity against urging diseases such as cancer and multidrug-resistant pathogens. The structural diversity of fungal AQs, monomers, dimers, trimers, halogenated, etc… results in a vast range of pharmacological activities.

Aim of review

The current study capitalizes on uncovering the diversity and distribution of host-living fungal systems producing AQs in different terrestrial ecosystems ranging from plant endophytes, lichens, animals and insects. Furthermore, the potential bioactivities of fungal derived AQs i.e., antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral (anti-HIV), anticancer, antioxidant, diuretic and laxative activities are assembled in relation to their structure activity relationship (SAR). Analyzing for structure–activity relationship among fungal AQs may facilitate bioengineering of more potential analogues. Withal, elucidation of AQs biosynthetic pathways in fungi is discussed from different fungal hosts to open up new possibilities for potential biotechnological applications. Such comprehensive review unravels terrestrial host-living fungal systems as a treasure trove in drug discovery, in addition to future perspectives and trends for their exploitation in pharmaceutical industries.

Key Scientific Concepts of Review

Such comprehensive review unravels terrestrialhost-living fungal systems as a treasure trove in drug discovery, in addition to future perspectives and trends for their exploitation in pharmaceutical industries.

Potential secondary metabolite from Indonesian Actinobacteria (InaCC A758) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

OBJECTIVES

This study explored Indonesian Actinobacteria which were isolated from Curcuma zedoaria endophytic microbes and mangrove ecosystem for new antimycobacterial compounds.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Antimycobacterial activity test was carried out against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. Chemical profiling of secondary metabolite using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) and High Resolution-Mass Spectroscopy (HR-MS) was done to the ethyl acetate extract of active strain InaCC A758. Molecular taxonomy analysis based on 16S rRNA gene and biosynthetic gene clusters analysis of polyketide synthase (PKS) and non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) from InaCC A758 have been carried out. Bioassay guided isolation of ethyl acetate extract was done, then structural elucidation of active compound was performed using UV-Vis, FT-IR, and NMR spectroscopy methods.

RESULTS

The chemical profiling using HR-MS revealed that InaCC A758 has the potential to produce new antimycobacterial compounds. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that InaCC A758 has the closest homology to Streptomyces parvus strain NBRC 14599 (99.64%). In addition, InaCC A758 has NRPS gene and related to S. parvulus (92% of similarity), and also PKS gene related to PKS-type borrelidin of S. rochei and S. parvulus (74% of similarity). Two compounds with potential antimycobacterial were predicted as 1) Compound 1, similar to dimethenamid (C₁₂H₁₈ClNO₂S; MW 275.0723), with MIC value of 100 µg/ml, and 2) Compound 2, actinomycin D (C₆2H₈₆N₁₂O₁₆; MW 1254.6285), with MIC value of 0.78 µg/ml.

CONCLUSION

Actinomycin D has been reported to have antimycobacterial activity, however the compound has been predicted to resemble dimethenamid had not been reported to have similar activity.