Antiparasitic and anticancer constituents of the endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp. strain F1544.

With the combined goal of finding the best anti-parasitic and anti-cancer activities as well as isolating the bioactive agents and studying their structures and biological properties, we proceeded to perform a small-scale cultivation of Aspergillus sp. strain F1544 using Potato Dextrose, Malt Extract, Czapek Dox and Eight Vegetables media. From the more promising extracts (obtaining using potato dextrose and czapek dox media in large scale) of this fungus, we isolated the five compounds: pseurotin A (1), 14-norpseurotin A (2), FD-838 (3), and pseurotin D (4), and fumoquinone B (5). All compounds showed good antileishmanial and moderate anticancer activities.

Screening and evaluation of antiparasitic and in vitro anticancer activities of Panamanian endophytic fungi.

Many compounds produced by fungi have relevant pharmaceutical applications. The purpose of this study was to collect and isolate endophytic fungi from different regions of Panama and then to test their potential therapeutic activities against Leishmania donovani, Plasmodium falciparum, and Trypanosoma cruzi as well as their anticancer activities in MCF-7 cells. Of the 25 fungal isolates obtained, ten of them had good anti-parasitic potential, showing selective activity against L. donovani; four had significant anti-malarial activity; and three inhibited the growth of T. cruzi. Anticancer activity was demonstrated in four isolates. Of the active isolates, Edenia sp. strain F0755, Xylaria sp. strain F1220, Aspergillus sp. strain F1544, Mycoleptodiscus sp. strain F0194, Phomopsis sp. strain F1566, Pycnoporus sp. strain F0305, and Diaporthe sp. strain F1647 showed the most promise based on their selective bioactivity and lack of toxicity in the assays.