Production of some biologically active secondary metabolites from marine-derived fungus Varicosporina ramulosa

In a screening of fungal isolates associated with marine algae collected from Abou-keer, Alexanderia during the four seasons of 2004, to obtain new biologically active compounds. Varicosporina ramulosa isolate was identified and selected as a producer of 13 compounds. Out of 13 pure compounds produced, compounds 3 and 10 were considered as antibacterial and antifungal compounds, respectively as they were active against gram positive, gram negative bacteria and a fungus. Optimization of conditions (fermentation media, incubation period, temperature, initial pH, aeration levels) which activate compounds 3 and 10 production were studied. Also the spectral properties (UV, MS, GC/MS, IR and 1H-NMR) of the purified compounds were determined. Compound 3 suggested to be dibutyl phthalate and compound 10 may be ergosterol or one of its isomers. Biological evaluation of the two compounds towards 6 different types of tumor cell lines showed weak effect of compound 3 at different concentrations on the viable cell count of the different tumor cell lines. While compound 10 showed different activities against the viable cell count of the 6 different tumor cell lines. It kills 50% of the viable infected liver and lung cells at concentrations equal to 99.7 μg/mL, 74.9μg/mL, respectively. Compound 10 can be recommended as new anticancer compounds.

Isolation, identification and antimicrobial activities of some fungi associated with marine algae

Ninety four fungal isolates belonging to nineteen fungal genera and thirty seven species were isolated from different algae samples collected from Abou-keer, Alexandria, Egypt, during the four seasons of 2004. The marine fungal genera were Helicascus, Sigmoidea and Varicosporina, while the terrestrial fungal genera were Acremonium, AIternaria, Aspergillus, Chrysonilia, Cladosporium, Dendryphiopsis, Fusarium, Geotriclium, Helminthosporium, Moniliella, Mucor, Penicillium. Scopulariopsis, Trichoderma, Ulocladium and Verticillium. All fungal isolates were tested against some pathogenic bacteria, yeast and fungi. The results revealed that, Penicillium brevicompactum [APt] and Varicsporina ramulosa [SPa] were the most promising fungi which were active against gram positive, gram negative bacteria and fungi