Larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti and molecular docking studies of compounds extracted from the endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp. isolated from Bertholletia excelsa Humn. & Bonpl.

Abstract

Endophytic fungi are microorganisms capable of colonizing the interior of plant tissues without causing damage to them. The study of the secondary metabolites produced by their vast biodiversity fungal is relevant for the discovery of new products for biotechnological and agrochemical applications. In addition, extract of the endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp., isolated from the almonds of Bertholletia excelsa Humn & Bonlp collected in the Brazilian Amazon, oviposition deterrent, and larvicidal activity of against Aedes aegypti. In the oviposition deterrence test was observed that females able to lay eggs preferred the control oviposition sites (46.6%). Furthermore, the extract showed larvicidal activity with LC50 26.86µg/mL at 24h and 18.75µg/mL at 48h. Molecular docking studies showed the compound Aspergillol B a potent larvicide by to inhibit the acetylcholinesterase enzyme (- 7.74kcal/mol). These results indicate that compounds from secondary metabolites of Aspergillus sp., isolated from almonds of B. excelsa, are useful biological potential against vectors A. aegypti.