Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Endophytic Fungi Talaromyces wortmannii Extracts against Acne-Inducing Bacteria

Abstract

Acne vulgaris is the most common skin disease, causing significant psychosocial problems such as anxiety and depression similar to a chronic illness for those afflicted. Currently, obtainable agents for acne treatment have limited use. Thus, development of novel agents to treat this disease is a high medical need. The anaerobic bacterium Propionibacterium acnes has been implicated in the inflammatory phase of acne vulgaris by activating pro-inflammatory mediators such as the interleukin-8 (IL-8) via the NF-κB and MAPK pathways. Talaromyces wortmannii is an endophytic fungus, which is known to produce high bioactive natural compounds. We hypothesize that compound C but also the crude extract from T. wortmannii may possess both antibacterial activity especially against P. acnes and also anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression and P. acnes-induced IL-8 release. Treatment of keratinocytes (HaCaT) with P. acnes significantly increased NF-κB and activator protein-1 (AP-1) activation, as well as IL-8 release. Compound C inhibited P. acnes-mediated activation of NF-κB and AP-1 by inhibiting IκB degradation and the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK MAP kinases, and IL-8 release in a dose-dependent manner. Based on these results, compound C has effective antimicrobial activity against P. acnes and anti-inflammatory activity, and we suggest that this substance or the crude extract are alternative treatments for antibiotic/anti-inflammatory therapy for acne vulgaris.

Eckol fromEisenia bicyclisInhibits Inflammation Through the Akt/NF-κB Signaling inPropionibacterium acnes-Induced Human Keratinocyte Hacat Cells

“…After, P. acnes was grown for 72 h (stationary‐phase cells) in BHI broth (Difco Inc.), P. acnes was harvested by centrifugation at 2,000 g for 15 min (Pretsch et al . ). Pellets were washed three times with cold PBS without antibiotics, and were suspended in PBS, and finally resuspended in PBS at 3 × 10 8 cfu/mL for further use.…”

Anti-leishmanial and Anti-inflammatory Agents from Endophytes: A Review

“…An unidentified compound C produced by endophytic fungus Talaromyces wortmannii was reported to impede P. acnes-mediated activation of NF-κB and AP-1 by inhibiting in a dose-dependent manner the IκB degradation, the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK MAP kinases, and the release of IL-8 [86]. This result may suggest that compound C can be useful in the development of a new drug against inflammation and acne.…”

Endophytic Fungi as Novel Resources of natural Therapeutics

“…Nowadays, researcher shows a great interest in those finding medicinal agents that are derived from microbial source because of the currently available drugs are either have certain side effects or are highly expensive [ 192 ]. Endophytic fungi Talaromyces wortmannii isolated from medicinal plant Aloe vera and further seperated as several pure substances and out of that component C showed potent anti-inflammatory activity and this ability was gained for this metabolite is due to inhibition of IL-8 release by blocking NF-κB and AP-1 activation [ 193 ]. Compound Mutolide was isolated from the coprophilous fungus Lepidosphaeria sp.…”