Biological Activity Of Secondary Metabolites Research Articles

Antioxidant, anticancer and antimicrobial activity of secondary metabolites from Fusarium species

To evaluate the biological activities of secondary metabolites obtained from Fusarium species. The secondary metabolites of Fusarium oxysporum showed a proliferative effect on MCF-7 cells. The secondary metabolites of Fusarium solani reduced the viability of the MCF-7 cell in 48 hours. The metabolites of both fungi showed significant antibacterial activity (p<0.0010) in E. coli strains at all concentrations. F.oxysporum and solani significantly inhibited S. aureus at all concentrations within 24h. F. oxysporum metabolites significantly reduced C. albicans at all concentrations within 24h. The secondary metabolites of Fusarium solani significantly (p<0.0001) reduced the viability of C. albicans at all concentrations. There are compounds in Fusarium solani with antitumor and antimicrobial properties.

Structures and Biological Activities of Secondary Metabolites from Xylaria spp.

The fungus genus Xylaria is an important source of drug discoveries in scientific fields and in the pharmaceutical industry due to its potential to produce a variety of structured novel and bioactive secondary metabolites. This review prioritizes the structures of the secondary metabolites of Xylaria spp. from 1994 to January 2024 and their relevant biological activities. A total of 445 new compounds, including terpenoids, nitrogen-containing compounds, polyketides, lactones, and other classes, are presented in this review. Remarkably, among these compounds, 177 compounds show various biological activities, including cytotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, immunosuppressive, and enzyme-inhibitory activities. This paper will guide further investigations into the structures of novel and potent active natural products derived from Xylaria and their potential contributions to the future development of new natural drug products in the agricultural and medicinal fields.

Biological Activities of Secondary Metabolites from the Edible-Medicinal Macrofungi.

Macrofungi are well-known as edible-medicinal mushrooms, which belong mostly to Basidiomycota, with a few from Ascomycota. In recent years, macrofungi have been recognized as a rich resource of structurally unique secondary metabolites, demonstrating a wide range of bioactivities, including anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antimalarial, neuro-protective, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic activities. This review highlights over 270 natural products produced by 17 families of macrofungi covering 2017 to 2023, including their structures, bioactivities, and related molecular mechanisms.

Influence of biological inductors on the synthesis and biological activity of microbial metabolites

The increasing antibiotic resistance is a severe concern for humanity. Co-cultivation of microorganisms is a promising method for obtaining new secondary antimicrobial metabolites. An effective strategy for co-cultivation of microorganisms involves the usage of certain biological inductors. The aim of this review is to summarize existing scientific research in the literature related to the influence of physiologically different types of biological inductors on the synthesis and biological activity of microbial secondary metabolites. An analysis of the literature has shown that in such studies, either live or inactivated cells of the inductor are added to the culture medium at significantly lower concentrations compared to the producer cells of the final metabolites, or the supernatant (filtrate) after cultivation of a competitive microorganism is used as an inductor. According to the literature and our own experimental studies, the using inductors is an effective approach not only for intensifying the synthesis of bacteriocins, surfactants, and antibiotics, but also for increasing their biological activity. Additionally, it often leads to the production of novel antimicrobial compounds that are not typical for the producer. However, the mechanisms of effect of inductors on the synthesis of biologically active secondary metabolites require further research, as the literature suggests that their introduction into the cultivation medium of producer does not always lead to an intensification of the synthesis of the final product. Moreover, the biological activity of secondary metabolites depends on the cultivation conditions of the producer, including the presence of biological inductors in the culture medium. Therefore, it is essential to conduct further research on the interaction between producers and competitive microorganisms to regulate the biological activity of the synthesised metabolites. In addition, there is a necessity to search for more cost-effective substrates for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, optimize the composition of the culture medium and expand the range of both pro- and eukaryotic inductors.

Structures and Biological Activities of Secondary Metabolites from the Trichoderma genus (Covering 2018-2022).

Trichoderma, a genus with more than 400 species, has a long history of use as an industrial bioreactor, biofertilizer, and biocontrol agent. It is considered a significant source of secondary metabolites (SMs) that possess unique structural features and a wide range of bioactivities. In recent years, numerous secondary metabolites of Trichoderma, including terpenoids, polyketides, peptides, alkaloids, and steroids, have been identified. Most of these SMs displayed antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and antifungal effects. This review focuses on the structural diversity, biological activities, and structure-activity relationships (SARs) of the SMs isolated from Trichoderma covered from 2018 to 2022. This study provides insights into the exploration and utilization of bioactive compounds from Trichoderma species in the agriculture or pharmaceutical industry.

In-silico Molecular Interaction Studies of Biologically Active Secondary Metabolites of Cissus quadrangularis L. as a Potential Anti-cancer Drug

Cissus quadrangularis Linn. is a succulent perennial plant of family Vitaceae also called as Asthisandhaanak or Hadjor in Hindi, has been traditionally described in Ayurveda and Siddha literature as general tonic and as a powerful analgesic, used as an anti-cancer, antidiabetic, antibacterial, hepatoprotective and neuroprotective etc. It is a good source of biologically active secondary metabolites withvarious pharmacological activities implicated in a wide range of human diseases. Cancer is a major issue or  concern in public health systems, especially in developing countries like India. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), Tyrosine kinase (TK) and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are emerging as an important cancer target therapeutic proteins. Molecular docking studies provide a better insight into the biological activity of secondary metabolites like Resveratrol (3,4′,5-trans-trihydroxystilbene) and Piceatannol (3,3′,4,5′-transtrihydroxystilbene) from C. quadrangularis L., its possible mechanisms of action, binding modes and predicting it as a possible anti-cancer drug with and lesser or no side effects

Bioactive Lichen Secondary Metabolites and Their Presence in Species from Chile.

Lichens are symbiotic organisms composed of at least one fungal and one algal species. They are found in different environments around the world, even in the poles and deserts. Some species can withstand extreme abiotic conditions, including radiation and the vacuum of space. Their chemistry is mainly due to the fungal metabolism and the production of several secondary metabolites with biological activity, which have been isolated due to an increasing interest from the pharmaceutical community. However, beyond the experimental data, little is known about their mechanisms of action and the potential pharmaceutical use of these kinds of molecules, especially the ones isolated from lesser-known species and/or lesser-studied countries. The main objective of this review is to analyze the bibliographical data of the biological activity of secondary metabolites from lichens, identifying the possible mechanisms of action and lichen species from Chile. We carried out a bibliographic revision of different scientific articles in order to collect all necessary information on the biological activity of the metabolites of these lichen species. For this, validated databases were used. We found the most recent reports where in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the biological properties of these metabolites. The biological activity, namely anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity, of 26 secondary metabolites are described, as well as their reported molecular mechanisms. The most notable metabolites found in this review were usnic acid, atranorin, protolichesterinic acid, and lobaric acid. Usnic acid was the most investigated metabolite, in addition to undergoing toxicological and pharmacological studies, where a hepatotoxicity effect was reported due to uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation. Additionally, no major studies have been made to validate the pharmacological application of these metabolites, and few advancements have been made in their artificial growth in bioreactors. Despite the described biological activities, there is little support to consider these metabolites in pharmaceutical formulations or to evaluate them in clinical trials. Nevertheless, it is important to carry out further studies regarding their possible human health effects. These lichen secondary metabolites present a promising research opportunity to find new pharmaceutical molecules due to their bioactive properties.

Antioxidant and toxicological activities of Pyrossia lanceolata (L.) Farw. extracts

Background: Pyrrosia lanceolata (L.) farw. is one of the Polypodiaceae species that is commonly used as a traditional medicinal plant.  Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the antioxidant and toxic levels in the extracts of the species.  Method: The aerial portion of the specie was extracted with methanol, followed by a liquid-liquid extraction with n-hexane, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate. DPPH radicals and the brine shrimp lethality test, , were used to assess its antioxidant activity and toxicity.  Result: The n-hexane extract exhibited no activity with IC50 values exceeding 500 μg/mL, whereas the ethyl acetate extract exhibited a high level of antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 12.08±0.27 μg/mL. Moreover, when tested against Artemia salina leach, the toxicological level of the extracts was greater than 1000 μg/mL. Conclusion: These findings lay the groundwork for further investigation into the process of isolating and evaluating the biological activity of secondary metabolites that were discovered in the extract.

In vitro antiplasmodial and toxicological activities of Vittaria anguste-elongata Hayata extracts

Background: The Vittaria anguste-elongata Hayata fern is a common species that grows on the trunks of palm trees. On the other hand, the phytochemical and pharmacological activities of this specie have not been investigated to a great extent. Objective: In this study, we reported the invitro antiplasmodial and toxicological activities from a variety of this specie's extract. Method: Methanol was used to extract the aerial part of the specie, and then a liquid-liquid extraction was done using n-hexane, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate). Assays for antiplasmodial activity and toxicity were carried out with two different strains of Plasmodium falciparum (3D7 and W2), as well as the brine shrimp lethality test.  Result: The antiplasmodial activities demonstrated that the dichloromethane extract had the most potential antiplasmodial activities among the extracts with an IC50 value of 13.65±0.06 μg/mL. On the other hand, the toxicological activities performed on Artemia salina demonstrated that n-hexane, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate were all classified as toxic. Conclusion: These findings provide a foundation for future research into isolating and analysing the biological activity of secondary metabolites found in the extract.

A systematic review on endophytic fungi and its role in the commercial applications.

EF have been explored for its beneficial impact on environment and for its commercial applications. It has proved its worth in these sectors and showed an impact on biological properties of plants by producing various bioactive molecules and enzymes. Endophytes are plant mutualists that live asymptomatically within plant tissues and exist in almost every plant species. Endophytic fungi benefit from the host plant nutrition, and the host plant gains improved competitive abilities and tolerance against pathogens, herbivores, and various abiotic stresses. Endophytic fungi are one of the most inventive classes which produce secondary metabolites and play a crucial role in human health and other biotic aspects. This review is focused on systematic study on the biodiversity of endophytic fungi in plants, and their role in enhancing various properties of plants such as antimicrobial, antimycobacterial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, anticancer, and biological activity of secondary metabolites produced by various fungal endophytes in host plants reported from 1994 to 2021. This review emphasizes the endophytic fungal population shaped by host genotype, environment, and endophytic fungi genotype affecting host plant. The impact of endophytic fungi has been discussed in detail which influences the commercial properties of plants. Endophytes also have an influence on plant productivity by increasing parameters such as nutrient recycling and phytostimulation. Studies focusing on mechanisms that regulate attenuation of secondary metabolite production in EF would provide much needed impetus on ensuring continued production of bioactive molecules from a indubitable source. If this knowledge is further extensively explored regarding fungal endophytes in plants for production of potential phytochemicals, then it will help in exploring a keen area of interest for pharmacognosy.

Pharmacognostical, phytochemical and antioxidant potential of hydroalcoholic extract of lam leaves

Medicinal plants have bioactive compounds which are used for curing of various human diseases and also play an important role in healing. Secondary constituents contain alkaloids, flavonoids, phenol, saponin, steroids and tannins. Medicinal plants have anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antidiuretic and anti- inflammation activities ect. The increasing interest in powerful biological activity of secondary metabolites outlined the necessity of determining their contents in medicinal plants. Lam () is a fast-growing and drought-resistant tree of the family. The tree is known with some common names: miracle, ben oil, drumstick, horseradish or simply moringa. Phytochemical studies of plant organs showed the plant as a rich source of primary and secondary metabolites belonging to different classes of organic compounds. Pharmacological studies confirmed the use of the plant to cure several diseases and to possess nutraceutical properties. The objective of this study was to investigate pharmacognostical, phytochemical features and antioxidant activity of hydroalcoholic extracts of leaves by using DPPH assay method. The different pharmacognostical parameters were evaluated as per standard protocols with some modifications. Qualitative analysis of various phytochemical constituents and quantitative analysis of total phenol and flavonoids were determined by the well-known test protocol available in the literature. Quantitative analysis of phenolic and flavonoids was carried out by Folins Ciocalteau reagent method and aluminium chloride method respectively. The antioxidant activity of hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves was assessed against DPPH method using standard protocols.Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, amino acid and carbohydrate. The total phenolic and flavonoids content of leaves of hydroalcoholic extract was 0.864and 1.014 mg/100mg respectively. The activities of hydroalcoholic leaves extract against DPPH assay method were concentration dependent with IC values of ascorbic acid and extracts 17.68 and 79.10µg/ml respectively. The present study concluded that the crude extract of is a rich source of secondary phytoconstituents which impart significant antioxidant potential. The findings of the present study will be helpful to phytochemists, pharmacologists and pharmaceutical industries.

Structures and Biological Activities of Secondary Metabolites from Trichoderma harzianum.

The biocontrol fungus Trichoderma harzianum, from both marine and terrestrial environments, has attracted considerable attention. T. harzianum has a tremendous potential to produce a variety of bioactive secondary metabolites (SMs), which are an important source of new herbicides and antibiotics. This review prioritizes the SMs of T. harzianum from 1988 to June 2022, and their relevant biological activities. Marine-derived SMs, especially terpenoids, polyketides, and macrolides compounds, occupy a significant proportion of natural products from T. harzianum, deserving more of our attention.

Psidium guajava L. An Incalculable but Underexplored Food Crop: Its Phytochemistry, Ethnopharmacology, and Industrial Applications.

Psidium guajava L. (guava) is a small tree known for its fruit flavor that is cultivated almost around the globe in tropical areas. Its fruit is amazingly rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber. In different parts of the world, this plant holds a special place with respect to fruit and nutritional items. Pharmacological research has shown that this plant has more potential than just a fruit source; it also has beneficial effects against a variety of chronic diseases due to its rich nutritional and phytochemical profile. The primary goal of this document is to provide an updated overview of Psidium guajava L. and its bioactive secondary metabolites, as well as their availability for further study, with a focus on the health benefits and potential industrial applications. There have been several studies conducted on Psidium guajava L. in relation to its use in the pharmaceutical industry. However, its clinical efficacy and applications are still debatable. Therefore, in this review a detailed study with respect to phytochemistry of the plant through modern instruments such as GC and LC-MS has been discussed. The biological activities of secondary metabolites isolated from this plant have been extensively discussed. In order to perform long-term clinical trials to learn more about their effectiveness as drugs and applications for various health benefits, a structure activity relationship has been established. Based on the literature, it is concluded that this plant has a wide variety of biopharmaceutical applications. As a whole, this article calls for long-term clinical trials to obtain a greater understanding of how it can be used to treat different diseases.

Glandular trichomes of medicinal plants: types, separation and purification, biological activities

Glandular trichomes (GTs) are one of the epidermal tissues of medicinal plants which function in the synthesis, storage, and secretion of secondary metabolites. The active ingredients of Chinese medicinal materials are mostly secondary metabolites of plants. Accordingly, it is of great research value to explore the quality of medicinal materials using the GTs of medicinal plants as the starting point. However, most of the current studies on GTs of medicinal plants are still at the simple morphological identification stage, and there are few studies on the compounds secreted by GTs and secondary metabolic processes. Here, we reviewed the literature, summarized the morphological types of medicinal plant GTs, separation and purification technology, analysis technology, and biological activities of secondary metabolites, and established a research approach to medicinal plant GTs. We hope to provide a reference for future research on GT inclusions and secondary metabolism.

Research advances in the structures and biological activities of secondary metabolites from Talaromyces.

The genus Talaromyces belongs to the phylum Ascomycota of the kingdom Fungi. Studies have shown that Talaromyces species yield many kinds of secondary metabolites, including esters, terpenes, steroids, alkaloids, polyketides, and anthraquinones, some of which have biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, bacteriostatic, and antitumor activities. The chemical constituents of fungi belonging to the genus Talaromyces that have been studied by researchers over the past several years, as well as their biological activities, are reviewed here to provide a reference for the development of high-value natural products and innovative uses of these resources.

Non-peptide secondary metabolites from poisonous mushrooms: overview of chemistry, bioactivity, and biosynthesis.

Covering: up to June 2021A wide variety of mushrooms have traditionally been recognized as edible fungi with high nutritional value and low calories, and abundantly produce structurally diverse and bioactive secondary metabolites. However, accidental ingestion of poisonous mushrooms can result in serious illnesses and even death. Chemically, mushroom poisoning is associated with secondary metabolites produced in poisonous mushrooms, causing specific toxicity. However, many poisonous mushrooms have not been fully investigated for their secondary metabolites, and the secondary metabolites of poisonous mushrooms have not been systematically summarized for details such as chemical composition and biosynthetic mechanisms. The isolation and identification of secondary metabolites from poisonous mushrooms have great research value since these compounds could be lethal toxins that contribute to the toxicity of mushrooms or could provide lead compounds with remarkable biological activities that can promote advances in other related disciplines, such as biochemistry and pharmacology. In this review, we summarize the structures and biological activities of secondary metabolites identified from poisonous mushrooms and provide an overview of the current information on these metabolites, focusing on their chemistry, bioactivity, and biosynthesis.

Natural Products from Actinomycetes Associated with Marine Organisms.

The actinomycetes have proven to be a rich source of bioactive secondary metabolites and play a critical role in the development of pharmaceutical researches. With interactions of host organisms and having special ecological status, the actinomycetes associated with marine animals, marine plants, macroalgae, cyanobacteria, and lichens have more potential to produce active metabolites acting as chemical defenses to protect the host from predators as well as microbial infection. This review focuses on 536 secondary metabolites (SMs) from actinomycetes associated with these marine organisms covering the literature to mid-2021, which will highlight the taxonomic diversity of actinomycetes and the structural classes, biological activities of SMs. Among all the actinomycetes listed, members of Streptomyces (68%), Micromonospora (6%), and Nocardiopsis (3%) are dominant producers of secondary metabolites. Additionally, alkaloids (37%), polyketides (33%), and peptides (15%) comprise the largest proportion of natural products with mostly antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the data analysis and clinical information of SMs have been summarized in this article, suggesting that some of these actinomycetes with multiple host organisms deserve more attention to their special ecological status and genetic factors.

Insilico Prediction of Biological Activity of Secondary Metabolites of Amphora sp.: for Development of Natural Medicines

Diatom Amphora sp. is a type of aquaculture product that has various types of metabolites with very good potential to be used as basic ingredients for drugs or other health products. Insilico analysis of extracts of Amphora sp. was carried out to predict biological activity that can be used as a basis for developing the use of aquaculture products. The research was conducted by extracting Amphora sp. using ethanol solvent with sonication method, the extraction results were analyzed by LC-HRMS, and the metabolite readings were then analyzed for drug potential and biological activity online using swissADME, Protox II, and Way2Drug applications. The results of the LC-HRMS analysis showed that the extracted Amphora sp. showed the highest abundance of valine compounds with 17.6% as well as other compounds L-Norleucin, stearamide, palmitoleic acid, isotretinoin, and arachidonic acid. The results of the ADME/T analysis showed that the six compounds of Amphora sp. extract had quite good potential according to the Lipinski rule of five. Biological activity also shows potential as an anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and antineoplastic agent with Pa values ranging from 0.260 to 0.873. These results indicate that the production development of Amphora sp. and its use is very wide, including in the health sector. Keyword: ADME/T, PASSonline, Amphora sp., sonication, aquaculture

Introduction pages

Notulae Scientia Biologicae (http://www.notulaebiologicae.ro), Issue 2, Volume 13, 2021: The papers published in this issue represent interesting novelties in different topics of life science. Among the exciting researches or reviews, we invite readers to find news about: Xenobiology: An expanded semantical review; Hog plums: Its importance, potentials and future prospects; Organic waste utilization and urban food waste composting strategies in China; Antimalarial phytochemicals as inhibitors against COVID-19 ACE2 receptor: Computational screening; Acute and sub-acute toxicity profile of methanol extract of Hura crepitans leaf on Wistar rats; Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants used to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ain Sekhouna, Saida, Algeria; Anti-proliferating activity of some toxic and medicinal plants used by Wancho tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, India; Apomictic development during different flower development stages in Crataegus tanacetifolia (Lam.) Pers., endemic to Turkey; Endophytic fungal isolation from Blumea axillaris: Identification and biological activity of secondary metabolites; Nutrient and metal concentrations in Nepenthes macfarlanei Hemsl. (Nepenthaceae) from a Malaysian montane forest.

Endophytic fungal isolation from Blumea axillaris: Identification and biological activity of secondary metabolites

Medicinal plants are a wealthy source of natural medicinal properties and remain as base for new drug discoveries. Endophyte from the specific medicinal plants produce the analogous metabolites as that of the host plant. The metabolites from the endophytes comprise maximum therapeutic properties and have been extensively applied in treating various diseases and disorders. This study was focused on identification of the endophytic fungi from the medicinal plant Blumea axillaris and investigates the diversity of endophytic fungi from various explants of the same plant. The explants were cultured on potato dextrose agar and 6 endophytic fungi were successfully isolated from Blumea axillaris. They were identified morphologically and confirmed with molecular analysis as Xylaria arbuscula, Paraphoma radicina, Phomopsis phaseoli, Sordaria fimicola, Aspergillus amstelodami, Diaporthe eucalyptorum. The DNA sequences were analyzed by BLAST and the phylogenetic tree was constructed with neighbor joining method. The six isolates were subjected to antagonistic activity for the selection of potential strain and the bioactive strain Xylaria arbuscula was selected for the production of secondary metabolites by optimization. The parameters like pH, temperature, incubation period, carbon and nitrogen (organic and inorganic source) were optimized for secondary metabolite production. The fungal metabolite was extracted by solvent extraction method using polar and non-polar solvents like propanol, methanol, chloroform, acetone and ethyl acetate. To investigate the bioactivities of the fungal crude extract was subjected first for its antioxidant activity using DPPH radical scavenging method, followed by antimicrobial activity of methanolic (MeOH) extract of Xylaria arbuscula, that were also analyzed by the agar well-diffusion method against the clinical pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pnuemoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans.