Abstract
An endophytic fungus (
Botryosphaeria rhodina) was isolated from the stems of the medicinal plant
Bidens pilosa (Asteraceae) that is known for its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antifungal effects. The ethyl acetate extract of the fungal isolate exhibits significant antifungal activity as well as potent cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects against several cancer cell lines. Activity-guided fractionation resulted in the isolation of a complex of four depsidones, botryorhodines A–D and the auxin indole carboxylic acid. Botryorhodines A and B show moderate to weak cytotoxic activities and are active against a range of pathogenic fungi, such as
Aspergillus terreus and the plant pathogen
Fusarium oxysporum. A potential role of the endophyte in modulating fungal populations living within or attacking the host plant is discussed.
An endophytic fungus (
Botryosphaeria rhodina) was isolated from the stems of the medicinal plant
Bidens pilosa (Asteraceae) that is known for its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antifungal effects. The ethyl acetate extract of the fungal isolate exhibits significant antifungal activity as well as potent cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects against several cancer cell lines. Activity-guided fractionation resulted in the isolation of a complex of four depsidones, botryorhodines A–D and the auxin indole carboxylic acid. Botryorhodine A and B show moderate to weak cytotoxic activities against HeLa cell lines with a CC
50 of 96.97
μM and 36.41
μM, respectively. In addition, they also show antifungal activity against a range of pathogenic fungi such as
Aspergillus terreus (MIC 26.03
μM for botryorhodine A and 49.70
μM for B) and the plant pathogen
Fusarium oxysporum (MIC 191.60
μM for botryorhodine A and 238.80
μM for B). A potential role of the endophyte in modulating fungal populations living within or attacking the host plant is discussed.