Fungus Penicillium Research Articles

Transcriptomic Insights into the Physiological Aspects of the Saprotrophic Fungus Penicillium citrinum During the Spoilage of Tobacco Leaves

Penicillium citrinum is one of the most prevalent tobacco spoilage fungi. However, the mechanisms underlying fungal growth on tobacco leaves remain largely unknown. In this study, transcriptomic analyses were performed to reveal the genome-wide expression profiles of P. citrinum growing on tobacco leaves. First, a comparative analysis was conducted between two sets of transcriptomic data from P. citrinum growing on chemically defined media and tobacco leaves. Enrichment analyses showed that differentially regulated genes were mainly associated with carbohydrate degradation (e.g., cellulose, pectin, and xylan) and the catabolism of fatty acids and aromatic compounds. Comparative transcriptomic analyses between different time points indicated that the fungal transcriptome varied dynamically during the spoilage process, and the enriched terms were associated with small-molecule degradation and fungal development. Enrichment analyses indicated that more up-regulated genes appeared in all enriched Gene Ontology terms. Notably, more organelles significantly contributed to further fungal growth on tobacco leaves. In conclusion, P. citrinum activates a comprehensive transcriptome that changes dynamically when causing tobacco mildew.

Polyketide Derivatives from the Mangrove-Derived Fungus Penicillium sp. HDN15-312.

Four new polyketides, namely furantides A-B (1-2), talamin E (3) and arugosinacid A (4), and two known polyketides were obtained from the mangrove-derived fungus Penicillium sp. HDN15-312 using the One Strain Many Compounds (OSMAC) strategy. Their chemical structures, including configurations, were elucidated by detailed analysis of extensive NMR spectra, HRESIMS and ECD. The DPPH radicals scavenging activity of 3, with an IC50 value of 6.79 µM, was better than vitamin C.

Molecular Insights into the Defense of Dioscorea opposita Cultivar Tiegun Callus Against Pathogenic and Endophytic Fungal Infection Through Transcriptome Analysis.

Dioscorea opposita cultivar Tiegun is an economically important crop with high nutritional and medicinal value. Plants can activate complex and diverse defense mechanisms after infection by pathogenic fungi. Moreover, endophytic fungi can also trigger the plant immune system to resist pathogen invasion. However, the study of the effects of endophytic fungi on plant infection lags far behind that of pathogenic fungi, and the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Here, the black spot pathogen Alternaria alternata and the endophytic fungus Penicillium halotolerans of Tiegun were identified and used to infect calli. The results showed that A. alternata could cause more severe membrane lipid peroxidation, whereas P. halotolerans could rapidly increase the activity of the plant antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase; thus, the degree of damage to the callus caused by P. halotolerans was weaker than that caused by A. alternata. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that various plant defense pathways, such as phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, play important roles in triggering the plant immune response during fungal infection. Furthermore, the tryptophan metabolism, betalain biosynthesis, fatty acid degradation, flavonoid biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, and isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis pathways may accelerate the infection of pathogenic fungi, and the ribosome biogenesis pathway in eukaryotes may retard the damage caused by endophytic fungi. This study lays a foundation for exploring the infection mechanism of yam pathogens and endophytic fungi and provides insight for effective fungal disease control in agriculture.

Eco-friendly lignin nanoparticles as antioxidant and antimicrobial material for enhanced textile production

Natural polymers are bioactive compounds that are used in the treatment of several disorders. Natural lignin, an amorphous polymer, offers significant potential for use as a building block in the production of bio-renovation materials. This study used an alkaline solvent technique to extract lignin from two Egyptian cotton cultivar byproducts, Giza 86 and 90. We then created nano-lignin to recycle cotton stalks into an environmentally beneficial product. The characterization of L86, L90, LNP86, and LNP90 was carried out using particle size, zeta potential, FT-IR, and TEM. Antioxidant activity using the DPPH assay and antimicrobial activity were determined for lignin and nano-lignin. Seven pathogenic bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus sciuri, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and five mycotoxigenic fungi (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium proliferatum and Penicillium verrucosum) were used for antimicrobial activity. The results showed high antioxidant efficiency for LNP90, with an IC50 of 10.38 µg/mL. The antimicrobial activity showed positive growth inhibition for all studied microorganisms, with significant differences in nano-lignin compared to ordinary lignin. lignin and nano-lignin were effectively applied to treated textiles for medical purposes. The study concluded that single-use medical textiles with anti-microbial and anti-oxidant properties, made from lignin and nano-lignin, could benefit patients intolerant to antibiotics.

Chemoreactive 2,5-Diketopiperazines from a Penicillium sp., Structure Revision of Reported Analogues and Proposed Facile Transformation Pathways.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive cutaneous cancer. Two new prenylated indole 2,5-diketopiperazine alkaloids, brevianamides E1 (1) and E2 (2), were isolated from a Penicillium fungus. Both compounds showed moderate cytotoxic activity against select MCC cell lines (i.e., MCC13, MKL-1, UISO, and WaGa) in the low micromolar range. The relative and absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by combined approaches, including NOESY spectroscopy, DFT ECD and DP4 plus calculations, and Marfey's reaction. Literature research and the comparison of NMR and ECD data led to the structure revision of three previously reported natural analogues, notoamides K and P and asperversiamide L. The structurally unstable 1 and 2 underwent steady interconversion under neutral aqueous conditions. Investigation of the degradation of 2 in acidic methanol solutions led to the identification of a new methoxylated derivative (6) and two new ring-opened products (7 and 8) with the rearranged, elongated, 4-methylpent-3-ene side chain. The facile transformation of 2 to 7 and 8 was promoted by the intrinsic impurity (i.e., formaldehyde) of HPLC-grade methanol through the aza-Cope rearrangement.

Hormones metabolism as affected by LED blue light in citrus fruit

The LED Blue Light (LBL) (450 nm) effect on hormones levels and on jasmonates (JAs) metabolism in oranges was investigated. The quantum flux (2 days, 60 μmol m−2. s−1) was chosen for its efficacy in reducing postharvest rot caused by this crop's main postharvest phytopathogenic fungus (Penicillium digitatum). The analysis of abscisic (ABA), salicylic (SA) and indole-3-acetic (IAA) acids, and of JAs-related metabolites, revealed that LBL modifies all studied metabolites and had major effects on JAs levels, mainly on jasmonic acid (JA) and its precursor cis-(+)-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA). This agrees with the up-regulation of the genes participating in their synthesis. Results highlight the relevance of CsLOX1 and CsLOX5, and the contribution of CsAOC3, in the LBL-induced OPDA biosynthesis, whereas CsOPR2, CsACX1 and CsACX3 would play a part in the synthesis of JA from OPDA. Data also suggest that the applied LBL quantum flux favors fruit JA perception by increasing the expression of the coronatine insensitive 1 (COI1) receptor; and signaling by down-regulating abundant CsJAZ negative regulators. Differences in OPDA and JA between the LBL-treated oranges and their control fruit left in the dark disappeared after shifting the LBL-treated oranges to darkness for 3 more days. However, the LBL and darkness combination slightly increased IAA and SA contents.

3,5-Dimethyl-8-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-1H-isochromen-6-ol Attenuates Ulcerative Colitis via Targeting NLRP3 in Mice.

3,5-Dimethyl-8-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-1H-isochromen-6-ol (DMD) is a polyketide compound obtained from the endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. HJT-A-10 of Rhodiola tibetica. R. tibetica is a nourishing food and also used in traditional Chinese medicine and Xizang medicine. In dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) mice, DMD significantly alleviated the pathological symptom of UC. Network pharmacology studies have shown that nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing (NLRP) 3 is the primary target protein of DMD associated with anti-UC. In molecular biology studies, DMD suppressed the activation of NLRP3 and decreased the expression of downstream inflammatory proteins and pro-inflammatory cytokines in UC. The finding was further verified in knockout mice. DMD lost the effect of attenuating DSS-induced UC in NLRP3-/- mice. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that DMD reduces inflammatory response and balances the barrier integrity to attenuate UC via targeting NLRP3, and DMD is a potential natural agent or dietary supplement for attenuating UC.

Risk assessment of citrinin in Chinese dark tea and inhibitory effects of tea polyphenols on citrinin production

The fungus Penicillium citrinum (P. citrinum), which is found in Chinese dark tea, is involved in the production of citrinin (CIT), a secondary metabolite with renal toxicity. In this study, a rapid method was used to detect CIT in Chinese dark tea samples from different regions and years. Of the 216 samples tested, 5 were detected to have CIT contamination, with a concentration ranging from 272.43 ± 16.57 to 649.68 ± 62.16 μg kg−1. Risk assessment for consuming dark tea showed that four heavy intake consumer groups in the deterministic risk assessment had hazard quotients (HQ) > 1, and the HQ for the probabilistic risk assessment was significantly below the acceptable level of 1.0. Furthermore, we found that tea polyphenols (TPs) inhibited the growth of P. citrinum. Transcriptome results showed that there were 483 downregulated and 783 upregulated genes between the TPs and control groups. Of which, orf1 and ctnD were significantly downregulated, demonstrating that TPs can affect CIT biosynthesis. Our research indicates that CIT in dark tea is within an acceptable risk level, and provides new insights into the inhibition of CIT. Furthermore, this study suggests that the suppression of CIT in dark tea by polyphenols make the consumption of dark tea safe.

Plant Organic Acids as Natural Inhibitors of Foodborne Pathogens

Background: Foodborne infections affect approximately 600 million people annually. Simultaneously, many plants contain substances like organic acids, which have antimicrobial activity. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of 21 organic acids, naturally occurring in plants, on four foodborne bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica Typhimurium) and two fungi (Geotrichum candidum and Penicillium candidum). Methods: The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the organic acids against foodborne bacteria and in silico toxicity prediction of acids were investigated. Results: Benzoic and salicylic acids exhibit the best activity against foodborne bacteria (mean MIC < 1 mg/mL). Acetic, chlorogenic, formic, malic, nicotinic, and rosmarinic acids demonstrate slightly weaker activity (mean MICs 1–2 mg/mL). Other acids have moderate or poor activity. The effectiveness of organic acids against foodborne fungi is weaker than against bacteria. Most acids require high concentrations (from 10 to >100 mg/mL) to inhibit fungal growth effectively. The predicted LD50 of organic acids ranges from 48 to 5000 mg/kg. Those potentially safe as food preservatives (MIC < LD50) include ascorbic, chlorogenic, malic, nicotinic, rosmarinic, salicylic, succinic, tannic, and tartaric acids. The studied organic acids are not carcinogenic but many can cause adverse effects such as skin sensitization, eye irritation, and potential nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, or neurotoxicity. Conclusions: Most of the investigated plant-derived organic acids exhibit good antibacterial activity and moderate or poor antifungal effects. Among 21 acids, only 9 appear to be safe as food preservatives (MIC < LD50). The relationship between MIC and LD50 is crucial in determining the suitability of organic acids as food preservatives, ensuring that they are effective against bacteria or fungi at concentrations that are not harmful to humans.

Applying UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS to profile the phytochemical constituents associated with docking studies of major components of Ziziphora capitata L as well as antimicrobial and antioxidant activity assessments of its subsequent fractions

This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical constituents, antimicrobial activity, and antioxidant effects of successive extracts of Ziziphora capitata L. aerial parts. UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS identified 79 phytoconstituents, including phenolic acids, alkaloids, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, as major phytoconstituents. Additionally, primary phytochemical investigations revealed the presence of terpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, and saponins in various plant fractions. The MICs of successive extracts were tested against a range of microorganisms, including gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus mutants, Enterococcus faecalis, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus epidermidis), gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, and Enterobacter cloacae), fungi (Aspergillus niger and Penicillium aurantiogriseum), and yeast (Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis), using the disk diffusion technique. The ethyl acetate and 95% ethanol extracts exhibited significant antibacterial activity against the tested microorganisms; however, the hexane fraction affected only P. aeruginosa. The effects of the CHCl3 and H2O fractions varied in their activities against most of the bacteria examined. Additionally, the AcOEt and 95% EtOH extracts exhibited significant antioxidant activity with IC50 = 18.6 ± 0.97 and 30.4 ± 1.86 µg/mL, respectively, compared to that of ascorbic acid (IC50 = 10.6 ± 0.8 µg/mL, reference drug). Antibacterial and antioxidant activities can be attributed to phytoconstituents, which were identified using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. Furthermore, docking simulations of the top ten phytochemicals of the 70% methanolic extract were carried out inside the active site of S. aureus DNA gyrase (PDB: 2XCT) and dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) from S. pneumoniae (PDB: 2VEG) as bacterial targets and these compounds exhibited good binding modes with different types of interactions.Graphical

Eurochevalierines A-I, Sesquiterpene Alkaloid Hybrids with Anti-Triple Negative Breast Cancer Activity from Penicillium sp. HZ-5.

Nine new sesquiterpene alkaloids, eurochevalierines A-I (1-9), were separated from the rice cultures of the endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. HZ-5 originated from the fresh leaf of Hypericum wilsonii N. Robson. The structures' illumination was conducted by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, extensive spectroscopic analysis, alkaline hydrolysis reaction, and Snatzke's method. Importantly, the antitumor activities screen of these isolates indicated that 1 could suppress triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell proliferation and induce apoptosis, with an IC50 value of 5.4 μM, which is comparable to the positive control docetaxel (DXT). Flow cytometry experiments mentioned that compound 1 significantly reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of TNBC cells. In addition, 1 could activate caspase-3 and elevated the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and expressions of suppressive cytokines and chemokines. Further Western blot analysis showed that 1 could selectively induce mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in TNBC cells via the BAX/BCL-2 pathway. Remarkably, these finding provide a new natural product skeleton for the treatment of TNBC.

New Zosteropenillines and Pallidopenillines from the Seagrass-Derived Fungus Penicillium yezoense KMM 4679.

Ten new decalin polyketides, zosteropenilline M (1), 11-epi-8-hydroxyzosteropenilline M (2), zosteropenilline N (3), 8-hydroxyzosteropenilline G (4), zosteropenilline O (5), zosteropenilline P (6), zosteropenilline Q (7), 13-dehydroxypallidopenilline A (8), zosteropenilline R (9) and zosteropenilline S (10), together with known zosteropenillines G (11) and J (12), pallidopenilline A (13) and 1-acetylpallidopenilline A (14), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the fungus Penicillium yezoense KMM 4679 associated with the seagrass Zostera marina. The structures of isolated compounds were established based on spectroscopic methods. The absolute configurations of zosteropenilline Q (7) and zosteropenilline S (10) were determined using a combination of the modified Mosher's method and ROESY data. The absolute configurations of zosteropenilline M (1) and zosteropenilline N (3) were determined using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations of the ECD spectra. A biogenetic pathway for compounds 1-14 is proposed. The antimicrobial, cytotoxic and cytoprotective activities of the isolated compounds were also studied. The significant cytoprotective effects of the new zosteropenilline M and zosteropenillines O and R were found in a cobalt chloride (II) mimic in in vitro hypoxia in HEK-293 cells. 1-Acetylpallidopenilline A (14) exhibited high inhibition of human breast cancer MCF-7 cell colony formation with IC50 of 0.66 µM and its anticancer effect was reduced when MCF-7 cells were pretreated with 4-hydroxitamoxifen. Thus, we propose 1-acetylpallidopenilline A as a new xenoestrogen with significant activity against breast cancer.

Penicianstinoids F-K, six undescribed meroterpenoids from the marine algicolous fungus Penicillium sp. RR-DL-1-7

Six previously undescribed meroterpenoids, penicianstinoids F-K (1–6), together with four known analogues, dehydroaustinol (7), dehydroaustin (8), penicianstinoid A (9), and furanoaustinol (10), were isolated from the cultures of the algicolous fungus Penicillium sp. RR-DL-1-7, derived from the red alga Rhodomela confervoides. Their structures and relative configuration were established by detailed spectroscopic analysis of NMR and HR-MS experiments, and the absolute configurations were assigned by X-ray diffraction and ECD spectral analysis. None of the isolates showed obvious growth inhibitory effects against five plankton and four bacteria species tested.

Two new pinophol derivatives from endophytic fungus Penicillium herquei JX4 hosted in Ceriops tagal

An OSMAC strategy was used to study secondary metabolites and anti-inflammatory activities of the endophytic fungus Penicillium herquei JX4 hosted in Ceriops tagal. The PDB ferment of fungus P. herquei JX4 was isolated, purified, and identified by using silica gel column chromatography, gel column chromatography, octadecylsilyl(ODS) column chromatography, and semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. Two new pinophol derivatives, pinophol H(1) and pinophol I(2) were isolated and identified, and they were evaluated in terms of the inhibitory activities against the nitric oxide(NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS) in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. The results showed that compound 1 had significant inhibitory activity on NO production, with an IC_(50) value of 8.12 μmol·L~(-1).

Evaluation of nanocellulose-based anthraquinone from marine fungi Penicillium flavidorsum as an alternative therapy for skin wound healing: histopathological and immunohistochemical evidences from a rat model

BackgroundWound healing represents a complex clinical challenge, necessitating the selection of appropriate wound dressings to facilitate an efficient healing process. This study aims to explore an effective approach to enhance wound healing by investigating the therapeutic potential of a nanocellulose-based anthraquinone derived from marine fungi.Forty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups, including a control group and various four treatment groups. The wound healing process was assessed by measuring the wound area at different time points.ResultsThe results showed promising outcomes in terms of wound healing progression. The group treated with anthraquinone and nanocellulose demonstrated the most favorable results, with normal epidermal architecture, marked hyperkeratosis, and minimal dermal edema. This study provides comprehensive evidence supporting the efficacy of this novel alternative therapy through histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses conducted on a rat model.ConclusionBy addressing the limitations associated with conventional wound dressings, our research contributes to the development of innovative strategies for optimizing wound healing outcomes. The findings presented herein underscore the potential of nanocellulose-based anthraquinone as a promising therapeutic option for promoting skin wound healing. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and establish the clinical viability of this alternative therapy.

Performances of phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms on soil chemical properties under different soil characteristics: a meta-analysis

The addition of phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSM) as biofertilizers can improve the quality of soil properties. A meta-analysis study was conducted to analyze the effect of PSM on soil properties. This meta-analysis has analyzed 20 research articles published between 1990 and 2023, which have reported the influence of PSM on soil properties. The value of effect size (ES) Hedges'd of available-P is 3.047 (p<0.001), ES of available K is 2.102 (p<0.001), ES of soil nitrogen (N) is 1.706 (p<0.001), ES of pH is -2.738 (p<0.001), ES of soil organic carbon (SOC) is 1.087 (p=0.004), ES of N-NH4 is 0.636 (p= 0.013), ES of N-NO3 is 2.643 (p< 0.001), ES of phosphatase is 5.001 (p< 0.001), ES of alkaline phosphatase is 22.956 (p<0.001), and ES of acid phosphatase is 23.104 (p<0.001). The results showed that in terms of phosphate solubility, PSM is more effective on alkaline soils with high SOC content, very high P availability, and a sandy loam texture. PSM is more effective for K solubility on acidic soils, with very high SOC content, high P availability, and a loamy texture. PSM is effective in increasing soil N with acid soil characteristics, low SOC content, moderate available P content, and clay texture. According to this study, the Penicillium fungus ranks second in the fungal group in terms of phosphate solubilization capacity after the genus Azotobacter. The genus Peronospora showed the greatest potential in increasing soil N. In contrast, Burkholderia showed the greatest effectiveness in solubilizing K.

Phosphatase activity of phosphate solubilizing microbes as affected by organic P substrate and acidity

Phosphate solubilizing microbe in soil has capable to produce extracelluler enzyme, i.e. group of phosphatase enzyme which able to mineralized of organic P to inorganic P so that prepare high P for plant. The objective of this experiment was to examine the phosphatase activity from soil bacteria Pseudomonas mallei, Bacillus subtilis and fungi Aspergilus niger and Penicillium sp. in media containing different organic phosphorous and acidity. The result of experiment showed that the kind of organic phosphorous of medium affect phosphatase activity of Pseudomonas mallei, Bacillus subtilis, Aspergilus niger and Penicillium sp. In general, all microbe grown on medium with organic P substrate of phytic acid (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate) showed highest phosphatase activity compare to those grown on organic P substrate from glycerophosphate disodium salt, phenil phosphate or α-D-glucose 1-phosphate dosidium salt. Furthermore, the highest dissolve P was obtained from medium which contain glycerophosphate disodium salt.

Discovery of Prenyltransferase-Guided Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid Derivatives from Marine Fungus Penicillium sp. W21C371.

Traditional isolation methods often lead to the rediscovery of known natural products. In contrast, genome mining strategies are considered effective for the continual discovery of new natural products. In this study, we discovered a unique prenyltransferase (PT) through genome mining, capable of catalyzing the transfer of a prenyl group to an aromatic nucleus to form C-C or C-O bonds. A pair of new hydroxyphenylacetic acid derivative enantiomers with prenyl units, (±)-peniprenydiol A (1), along with 16 known compounds (2-17), were isolated from a marine fungus, Penicillium sp. W21C371. The separation of 1 using chiral HPLC led to the isolation of the enantiomers 1a and 1b. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D, 2D NMR and HRESIMS. The absolute configurations of the new compounds were determined by a modified Mosher method. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for 1 was deduced, facilitated by PT catalysis. In the in vitro assay, 2 and 3 showed promising inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli β-glucuronidase (EcGUS), with IC50 values of 44.60 ± 0.84 μM and 21.60 ± 0.76 μM, respectively, compared to the positive control, D-saccharic acid 1,4-lactone hydrate (DSL). This study demonstrates the advantages of genome mining in the rational acquisition of new natural products.

Polyketides from the mangrove-derived fungus Penicillium robsamsonii HNNU0006

Seven polyketides, including an undescribed depsidone (1) and six previously reported 3,6,8-trihydroxy-1-methylxanthone (2), 7-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxypropyl)-5-methylchromone (3), methyl3-chloro-6-hydroxy-2-(4-hy-droxy-2-methoxy-6-methylphenoxy)-4- methoxybenzoate (4), xylarianin A (5), 4,5-dihydroxy-6-(6'-methylsalicyloxy)-2-hydro­xymethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one (6) and alternariol (7), have been isolated from cultures of the mangrove-derived fungus Penicillium robsamsonii HNNU0006. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and X-ray crystallography. Furthermore, all the compounds were evaluated their cytotoxic activities, and compounds 1 and 7 showed weak cytotoxicity against two cell lines Vero and A549 with IC50 values ranging from 95.6 and 296.5 μM, relative to the positive control Etoposide phosphate with IC50 values of 24.5 and 18.7 μM, respectively.

Assessment of ochratoxin A occurrence in poultry feed in eastern Algeria

ABSTRACT This study investigated the prevalence of the mycotoxin Ochratoxin A in poultry feed samples from Eastern Algeria, an important poultry production region. Ochratoxin A, produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium fungi, can contaminate feed, leading to toxicity issues for poultry and human beings consuming contaminated products. Analysis of 42 feed samples using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), found 62% contained detectable ochratoxin A levels exceeding the concentration of 1.50 ng g−1, varying between 2.23 ng g−1 and 3.23 ng g−1 with an average of 2.59 ng g−1. Although the widespread prevalence is below current regulatory limits, there is a need for continued monitoring to prevent contamination and toxin transfer to poultry meat and eggs. The study recommends expanding testing to more regions and implementing Ochratoxin A surveillance. This is a feed – and food – safety issue on a large scale, with implications for other countries in North Africa.