Vol. 10, Issue 7 (2021)

Author(s):
Akbar Basha Roshan and Devihalli Chikkaiah Mohana

Abstract:
Endophytic fungi are known to biosynthesis a plethora of bioactive secondary metabolites with promising antimicrobial activities. The present investigation evaluated the antimicrobial and antimycotoxigenic activities of the bioactive compound (3S)-3, 6, 7-trihydroxy-α-tetra lone (TT) isolated from Phoma moricola an endophytic fungus of Withania somnifera. The compound TT showed concentration-dependent broad-spectrum antimicrobial and anti-mycotoxin activities. The biosynthesis of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) from Asprgilllus flavus and fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) from Fusarium verticillioides were strongly inhibited by TT at 200 µg/mL. The compound TT significantly interferes A. flavus and E. coli growth by inhibiting membrane-specific cellular ergosterol biosynthesis and release of potassium ions, respectively. The docking study confirms that TT strongly active against the enzyme polyketide synthase, with a docking score of -6.77 kcal/mol units. The obtained results confirm the antimicrobial and antimycotoxin activities of TT; hence this compound could be explored as a green eco-friendly strategy for managing pathogenic microbial and mycotoxins contamination in food- and feedstuffs.