Physiological studies on some biologically active secondary metabolites from Marine – derived fungus penicillium brevicompactum.

Abstract

The fungal isolate Peak'.Num brevicompactum which isolated from the associated marine alga Pterocladla sp. in autumn season was able to produce 11 clear and active compounds, separated by the best solvent system dichloromethane: methanol (95:5 v/v). Compounds 4 and 9 were considered as antibacterial compounds, active against gram positive (B. subtillis) and gram negative (E. coh) bacteria. Malt extract broth medium with initial pH 4 when incubated at 28 °C in an incubator shaker at 200 rpm for 12 days were the most favorable conditions for compound 4 production (19.87 mg/l). The suitable conditions for compound 9 production (121.13 mg/L) were potato carrot broth medium, initial pH 4, incubation temperature 26 °C at 180 rpm after incubation period for10 days. Structural elucidation of the pure compounds suggested that compound 4 may be [Di (2-ethyl hexayl) phthalate], and compound 9 may be fungisterol or one of its isomers. Pure compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity towards 6 different types of tumor cell lines performed in Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University. The results revealed that, the maximum concentration of compound 4(100pg/mL) kills about 30% of lung cells. The maximum concentration of compound 9 (100 pg/mL) kills approximately 40% of the viable infected liver cells and also kills approximately 50% of the viable infected lung cells at concentration equal to 91.6 pg/ mL. It can be concluded that compound 9 can be recommended as an anticancer compound.