A Phenolic Compound of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Stem of Syzygium aqueum and its Diuretic Activity

Guava (Syzygium aqueum), a typical Indonesian crop plant, has diuretic properties. Plants used as diuretic medicines can also be valuable sources for endophytic fungi containing diuretic drugs. The aims of this study were to isolate and identify endophytic fungi from S. aqueum stems, to isolate their secondary metabolites, and to conduct in vivo tests of the diuretic activity of an endophytic fungus extract on white male rats of the Wistar strain. Endophytic fungi were isolated by a direct plating method, and fungal isolates were identified molecularly. A phenolic compound was isolated by chromatography, and the chemical structure was identified spectroscopically. Doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg BW were administered to white male rats divided into six groups (normal control, negative control, positive control, and the three treatment groups). Diuretic tests included urine volume; sodium, chloride, and calcium electrolyte levels; and pH. Phylogenetic analysis identified the endophytic fungal isolate as Trichoderma ghanense (isolation code SA1). The secondary metabolite isolated from the T. ghanense extract was a phenolic compound. Diuretic tests using the endophytic fungus extract showed the highest urine volume with a dose of 300 mg/kg BW. The diuretic test results showed an increase in urine volume and levels of sodium, potassium, and chloride ions in the urine. The extract of T. ghanense isolated from the stem of S. aqueum has the potential as initial therapy for hypertension because it contains phenolic secondary metabolites that show diuretic activity.

Plant Endophytic Fungus Extract ZNC Improved Potato Immunity, Yield, and Quality

Endophytic fungi play an important role in plant survival and reproduction, but the role of their metabolites in plant growth and immunity, as well as in crop quality formation, is poorly understood. Zhinengcong (ZNC) is a crude ethanol extract from the endophytic fungus Paecilomyces variotii, and previous studies have shown that it can improve the growth and immunity in Arabidopsis thaliana. The aim of the study was to reveal the trade-off balance between plant growth and immunity by evaluating the mechanisms of ZNC on potato growth, yield, and priming immunity against the oomycete Phytophthora infestans indoors and in the field. ZNC maintained a good balance between plant growth and resistance against P. infestans with high activity. It induced the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, promoted plant growth, yield and quality parameters, enhanced the expression of indoleacetic acid (IAA) related genes, and increased the absorption of nitrogen from the soil. Moreover, the plant endophytic fungus extract ZNC stimulated the pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) triggered immunity (PTI) pathway and contributed to the ZNC-mediated defense response. Two years of field trials have shown that irrigation with ZNC at one of two optimal concentrations of 1 or 10ng/ml could significantly increase the output by 18.83% or more. The quality of potato tubers was also greatly improved, in which the contents of vitamin C, protein, and starch were significantly increased, especially the sugar content was increased by 125%. Spray application of ZNC onto potato plants significantly reduced the occurrence of potato blight disease with 66.49% of control efficacy at 200ng/ml and increased the potato yield by 66.68% or more in the field. In summary, plant endophytic fungus extract ZNC promoted potato immunity, yield, and quality and presented excellent potential in agricultural applications.

Pigmentation Levels Affect Melanoma Responses to Coriolus versicolor Extract and Play a Crucial Role in Melanoma-Mononuclear Cell Crosstalk

Melanoma, the malignancy originating from pigment-producing melanocytes, is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and has a poor prognosis once the disease starts to metastasize. The process of melanin synthesis generates an immunosuppressive and mutagenic environment, and can increase melanoma cell resistance to different treatment modalities, including chemo-, radio- or photodynamic therapy. Recently, we have shown that the presence of melanin pigment inhibits the melanoma cell response to bioactive components of Coriolus versicolor (CV) Chinese fungus. Herein, using the same human melanoma cell line in which the level of pigmentation can be controlled by the L-tyrosine concentration in culture medium, we tested the effect of suppression of melanogenesis on the melanoma cell response to CV extract and investigated the cell death pathway induced by fungus extract in sensitized melanoma cells. Our data showed that susceptibility to CV-induced melanoma cell death is significantly increased after cell depigmentation. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to demonstrate that CV extract can induce RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL-mediated necroptosis in depigmented melanoma cells. Moreover, using the co-culture system, we showed that inhibition of the tyrosinase activity in melanoma cells modulates cytokine expression in co-cultured mononuclear cells, indicating that depigmentation of melanoma cells may activate immune cells and thereby influence a host anticancer response.

Studying of biofilm formation by clinical strains of Candida albicans in interaction with Fusarium solani to predict the severity of atopic dermatitis

Aim. To assess the ability to form biofilms by clinical strains of the yeast Candida albicans isolated from patients with atopic dermatitis in exacerbation and remission stages under the effect of Fusarium solani micromycete and its absence. Methods. The study included 70 strains of C. albicans and one strain of F. solani. Fungal biofilms formed according to the method of Ramage. The optical density of the biofilms measured using a micro plate reader at 620 nm. The effect of associated fungi on the biofilm-forming properties of C. albicans strains was studied by an extract from opportunistic F. solani fungi. Results. The greatest biofilm formation was observed in strains isolated at the remission stage. The strains isolated in the acute period were inferior to them in the ability to form biofilms (average values of film formation were 0.143 and 0.087, respectively). Co-cultivation of C. albicans strains with F. solani fungus extract stimulated biofilm formation of C. albicans strains at a concentration of 1:10. Conclusion. This study showed a possible synergism between C. albicans and F. solani in polymicrobial skin infections, because the products of the fungus F. solani increase one of the virulence factors of the fungus C. albicans; the possibility to assess of a stimulating effect of associated fungi on the virulence one of an agent of infectious disease process will allow predicting the disease severity.

Termiticidal Activity of Libidibia ferrea var. ferrea and of the Association With Isaria spp. Against Nasutitermes corniger

Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky) is an urban termite pest that is controlled by chemical applications. We investigated the effect of the association of Isaria farinosa (Holm: Fries) Fries, I. fumosorosea (Wize) Brown & Smith, and I. javanica (Frieder & Bally) Samson & Hywell-Jones with the extracts of Libidibia ferrea var. ferrea (Mart. Ex Tul.) L. P. Queiroz in the control of N. corniger. The following experiments were performed: the toxicity of aqueous and methanolic extracts on the biological aspects of fungi, action of extracts on workers and soldiers, and fungus-extract combination on workers of termite. The aqueous extracts of the leaves and pods of L. ferrea var. ferrrea were more efficient than the methanol extracts, demonstrating termiticide activity at 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg mL-1, with 100% worker mortality after the third and fourth days and 100% soldier mortality by the third through sixth day. Lethal concentrations (LC50) varied from 0.624 to 0.710 mg mL-1 for workers and from 0.146 to 1.410 mg mL-1 for soldiers. The extracts were compatible with the fungal strains at the lowest concentrations. Associations of the extracts with I. farinosa ESALQ1355 demonstrated efficient control of termite workers. The results demonstrate that L. ferrea var. ferrrea extracts, either alone or in association with I. farinosa ESALQ1355, functioned in the in vitro control of N. corniger, representing a viable alternative to be further tested in controlling those termites in urban areas.

EFEKTIVITAS EKSTRAK KAPANG ENDOFIT ISOLAT BR-S1 (A) TERHADAP BAKTERI Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Background Tea parasitic plant (Scurrula oortiana L.) is one of medicinal plants (herba medicina) containing several active compounds but its utilization is still constrained by some problems, so that there needs other approaches by utilizing potential of BR-S1 (A) isolate endophytic fungi which grows in these plants to control MRSA pathogenic bacteria. Objective This research aimed to examine the effectiveness of the four types of BR-S1 (A) endophytic fungi extract from the origin of tea parasites to the growth of MRSA bacteria.Methods The researchers used laboratory experimental method by Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method and the data obtained were analyzed statistically. Result The research result showed that MRSA bacteria had various sensitivity on four types of BR-S1 (A) isolate endophytic fungi; with its highest sensitivity on extract of ethyl acetate and its lowest sensitivity was extract of n-hexane (no inhibition). The difference of sensitivity test results was suspected to be related to active compound content found in ethyl acetate extract in form of flavonoid and tannin class compounds which had been proven to inhibit growth of pathogenic bacteria. Conclusion It can be concluded that the four types of BR-S1 (A) endophytic fungus extract originating from tea parasites, only ethyl acetate extract was the most effective in inhibiting the growth of MRSA bacteria, this is due to the content of two active compounds from the flavonoid and tannin groups.

THE BIOACTIVE PROPERTIES OF AQUEOUS EXTRACTS OF CULTURED MUSHROOMS HERICIUM ERINACEUS

The biologically active properties of the aqueous extracts of Hericium erinaceus were evaluated on the Af line mice using experimental models. It was found that consuming of the aqueous extracts of the studied fungus led to an increase in the resistance of the Af line laboratory mice to the transplantation of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. The 19-day survival rate grew up to 31.8 % after consuming the fungus extract in a concentration of 4 g/l (p = 0.0049). The positive effect of the preventive intake of the aqueous extract of H. erinaceus before the radiation and chemical exposure in the experimental model of spontaneous and induced lung adenomas was shown. The experimental data testify to the prospects of using the studied extracts as food supplements to increase the body's resistance to the negative factors, as disease prevention and prophylaxis.