Isolation and identification of antibiotics from endophytic fungi

Abstract

Endophytic fungi, found within the living tissues of the plant, are microbes that seem to have established a relationship with a higher plant. A number of bioactive metabolites have been found from those endophytic fungi. The aim of this study was to find antibiotics from endophytic fungi. Endophytic fungi were isolated from tissue of trees to screen activity against human and plant pathogens (Pythium ultimum, Candida albicans, Magnaporthe grisea). Forty-one fungi had activity against P. ultimum, thirty-six against C. albicans and fifty-five against the formation of appressorium of M. grisea. Bioactive metabolites from fungi, which showed activity against P. ultimum and M. grisea, were extracted with CH2Cl2 after 20 days old fermentation broth. Three compounds were isolated through TLC and HPLC. Their strucutures characterized through NMR, IR and mass spectrometries. Alternariol monomethyl ether (Compound 3), which was produced by Alternaria spp. isolated from Acacia mungium leaf, was isolated. The compound 1, which was produced by Penicillium spp. from Eucalyptus hybrid, was 1, 3-Dihydroxy-9-methyl-8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13-hexahydro-5H, 7H-7, 8-diaza- benzocyclodecene-6, 14-dione. The compound2, which was produced by Alternaria spp. from Acacia mungium leaf, was 7-(7-Hydroxy-oct-2-enoyl)-2- oxa-bicyclo3.2.0hepta-1(7),3, 5-trinen-3- yl]-acetic acid.