Abstract
Scouting for novel and plant-derived biomolecules from endophytic microbial sources draws greater focus on the discovery of novel bioactive metabolites. With this rationale, we scouted the endophytic fungi for taxol, an anticancer diterpenoid and fluorescent biomolecules. In the present study, about 31 endophytic fungal isolates recovered from the Mangifera indica leaves were screened for taxol production in M1D medium. About five isolates were shortlisted based on the thin layer chromatographic analysis of the fungal extracts. Among them Colletotrichum sp. MIP-5 has been identified as a producer of fungal taxol based on UV, FTIR, TLC and HPLC analysis. The partially purified fungal taxol showed similar spectral and chromatographic features of commercially available paclitaxel. In addition to this, we also report the production of a fluorescent compound by Penicillium sp. MIP-3. The Flavin-like compound exhibited a bright greenish-yellow fluorescence with an emission maximum in the range of 505 – 545nm. GC-MS analysis showed the occurrence of Latia luciferin, primarily associated with the bioluminescence of freshwater limpet Latia neritoides. This is the first report of this compound from Penicillium sp. In addition, therapeutically active steroid (β-Sitosterol, Stigmasterol, Campesterol), quinones (Benzo[h]quinoline, 2,4-dimethyl-) and phloroglucinol (Aspidinol) derivatives were also identified from Penicillium sp. MIP-3 based on GC-MS analysis. These molecules could potentially be used in biological and pharmaceutical applications in future.
Highlights
Endophytic fungi, an enormously diverse group, habituating the living internal tissues of plants without causing any immediate overt negative effects, represent a rich source of novel natural products.[1]
We report the production of a fluorescent compound by Penicillium sp
Of the 31 isolates grown in M1D medium, on TLC based screening, bands of 5 isolates comigrated with the authentic paclitaxel at same retention factor (Rf) (0.40) and were considered to be potential producers of taxanes (Fig. 2)
Summary
Endophytic fungi, an enormously diverse group, habituating the living internal tissues of plants without causing any immediate overt negative effects, represent a rich source of novel natural products.[1] Interactions of these cryptic organisms with their host plants vary coherently from mutualism to parasitism depending on the refined balance between the demands of the invaders and the host response.[2] In addition, the multitude of interactions among endophytic fungal partners and other biotic components of the niche yields a repertoire of diverse secondary metabolites.[3] The biological activity of these metabolites range from biosynthesis of defence compounds (antimicrobial, insecticidal, etc.,) which can exert activity directly or trigger (precursors) / modulate (epigenetic modulators) the hosts defence pathways to confer host benefits (fitness and protection).[4] they were documented to modulate the host microbiome through quorum sensing[5,6] and confer stress mitigation through host adapted endophytic fungal symbiosis.[4] Considerable interest on bioprospecting them for wider applications such as agricultural, industrial and pharmaceutical has been well documented.[7,8,9]
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