Secondary metabolites from the dandelion-derived endophytic fungus Epicoccum sorghinum 1-2 / 药学学报

The secondary metabolites from the dandelion-derived Epicoccum sorghinum 1-2 were isolated by silica gel and Sephadex gel column chromatography, and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Their structures were identified by comprehensive NMR and MS methods. Their antibacterial activities were determined by filter paper method. Finally, seven compounds were isolated and identified from the fermentation product of E. sorghinum 1-2, including (4R*,5R*,6S*)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(6'-methylsalicyloxy)-2-methoxymethyl-2-cyclohexen-l-one (1), (4R*,5R*,6S*)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(6′-methylsalicyloxy)-2-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one (2), (4R,5R,6S)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(6'-methylsalicyloxy)-2-hydroxymethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one (3), (-)-gabosine E (4), theobroxide (5), 3-chlorogentisyl alcohol (6), and 3-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (7), of which 1-5 are epoxydons, and 6 and 7 are phenolics. Compounds 1 and 2 are new structures reported for the first time. Compound 6 showed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.

Four new diphenyl ether derivatives from a mangrove endophytic fungus Epicoccum sorghinum / 中国天然药物

Four new diphenyl ethers, named epicoccethers K-N (1-4), were purified from the fermentation medium of a fungus Epicoccum sorghinum derived from Myoporum bontioides, and identified through HR-ESI-MS and NMR spectral analysis. Except that compound 1 showed moderate antifungal activity against Penicillium italicum and Fusarium graminearum, the other three compounds showed stronger activity against them than triadimefon. All of them showed moderate or weak antibacterial activity towards Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with O6 and O78 serotypes except that 3 was inactive to E. coli O6.

Causative fungi and treatment outcome of dematiaceous fungal keratitis in North India

Purpose: The aim of the study is to identify risk factors, clinical characteristics, causative fungi, and treatment outcome of dematiaceous fungal keratitis in North India. Methods: Consecutive cases of culture-proven dematiaceous fungal keratitis between January 2012 and June 2017 were retrieved from the medical record department. Risk factors, clinical signs, and outcome were registered. Results: Eighty-three patients were included. Identified dematiaceous fungal organism were Curvularia sp. (n = 55/83; 66.3%), Alternaria sp. (n = 12/83; 14.5%), Ulocladium sp. (n = 5/83; 6%), Bipolaris sp. (n = 5/83; 6.1%), Scedosporium sp. (n = 3/83; 3.6%), Acremonium sp. (n = 2/83; 2.4%), and Epicoccum sp. (n = 1/83; 1.2%). Male preponderance was reported. The most common predisposing factor was corneal trauma (67.4%). In cases associated with corneal trauma due to vegetative matter, sugarcane was the most common cause. In all, 89% of the patients were more than 30 years of age. The median infiltrate size was 8 mm2. The median time of antifungal therapy was 4.2 weeks (interquartile range [IQR]: 1-25 weeks). Complications were seen in 14 (n = 14/65; 21.5%) patients. Complete resolution of dematiaceous fungal keratitis was present in 27 (n = 27/65; 41.5%) eyes. Conclusion: Curvularia sp. and Alternaria sp. were the predominant pathogenic genera causing dematiaceous fungal keratitis. Among the causative fungi, infections due to Scedosporium sp. were associated with the worst outcomes. Ulocladium sp. and Epicoccum sp. were also identified. Both the species are not reported previously as a causal organism of dematiaceous fungal keratitis from North India.

Cytotoxicity, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of four compounds produced by an endophytic fungus Epicoccum nigrum associated with Entada abyssinica

ABSTRACT Four compounds including beauvericin, parahydroxybenzaldehyde, indole-3-carboxylic acid and quinizarin were isolated from endophytic fungus Epicoccum nigrum and their cytotoxicity, antibacterial and antioxidant activity were evaluated. Beauvericin had remarkable activity against two Gram-negative strains (Bacillus cereus and Salmonella typhimurium) with respective MIC values of 3.12 and 6.25 µg/ml. All the compounds had weak cytotoxic effect on both normal and tumor cells. LC50 values ranged from 40.42 to 86.56 µg/ml, 31.87 to 86.57 µg/ml and 21.59 to 67.27 µg/ml on Vero cells, THP-1 and RAW 264.7 respectively. The present study showed that these compounds could be developed for the formulation of antioxidant-rich therapeutic diets and as a therapeutic agent against bacterial infections.

Epicoccum nigrum and Cladosporium sp. for the treatment of oily effluent in an air-lift reactor

The metalworking industry is responsible for one of the most complex and difficult to handle oily effluents. These effluents consist of cutting fluids, which provide refrigeration and purification of metallic pieces in the machining system. When these effluents are biologically treated, is important to do this with autochthonous microorganisms; the use of these microorganisms (bioaugmentation) tends to be more efficient because they are already adapted to the existing pollutants. For this purpose, this study aimed to use two indigenous microorganisms, Epicoccum nigrum and Cladosporium sp. for metalworking effluent treatment using an air-lift reactor; the fungus Aspergillus niger (laboratory strain) was used as a reference microorganism. The original effluent characterization presented considerable pollutant potential. The color of the effluent was 1495 mg Pt/L, and it contained 59 mg/L H2O2, 53 mg/L total phenols, 2.5 mgO2/L dissolved oxygen (DO), and 887 mg/L oil and grease. The COD was 9147 mgO2/L and the chronic toxicity factor was 1667. Following biotreatment, the fungus Epicoccum nigrum was found to be the most efficient in reducing (effective reduction) the majority of the parameters (26% COD, 12% H2O2, 59% total phenols, and 40% oil and grease), while Cladosporium sp. was more efficient in color reduction (77%).