Antiplasmodial Properties and Cytotoxicity of Endophytic Fungi from Symphonia globulifera (Clusiaceae)

Abstract

There is continuing need for new and improved drugs to tackle malaria, which remains a major public health problem, especially in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Natural products represent credible sources of new antiplasmodial agents for antimalarial drug development. Endophytes that widely colonize healthy tissues of plants have been shown to synthesize a great variety of secondary metabolites that might possess antiplasmodial benefits. The present study was carried out to evaluate the antiplasmodial potential of extracts from endophytic fungi isolated from Symphonia globulifera against a chloroquine-resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum (PfINDO). Sixty-one fungal isolates with infection frequency of 67.77% were obtained from the bark of S. globulifera. Twelve selected isolates were classified into six different genera including Fusarium, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Mucor, and Bipolaris. Extracts from the 12 isolates were tested against PfINDO, and nine showed good activity (IC50 < 10 μg·mL−1) with three fungi including Paecilomyces lilacinus (IC50 = 0.44 μg·mL−1), Penicillium janthinellum (IC50 = 0.2 μg·mL−1), and Paecilomyces sp. (IC50 = 0.55 μg·mL−1) showing the highest promise. These three isolates were found to be less cytotoxic against the HEK293T cell line with selectivity indices ranging from 24.52 to 70.56. Results from this study indicate that endophytic fungi from Symphonia globulifera are promising sources of hit compounds that might be further investigated as novel drugs against malaria. The chemical investigation of active extracts is ongoing.

Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum (White Mold): Cytotoxic, Mutagenic, and Antimalarial Effects In Vivo and In Vitro

“…There is continuing need for new and improved drugs to tackle malaria, which remains a major public health problem, especially in tropical and subtropical regions of the world (Ateba et al., ). However, compounds that are ultimately selected for development of new antimalarial drugs must meet the requirements of rapid efficacy to counter the spread of malaria parasites, safe drugs, and that do not show any overt toxicity to human health (Fidock et al., ).…”

“…Ateba et al. () observed that extracts from Paecilomyces lilacinus , Penicillium , and Paecilomyces sp . exerted highly potent activities against chloroquine‐resistant P. falciparum (IC 50 < 1 µg/mL); extracts from Mucor falcatus and Aspergillus aculeatus showed moderate potency (IC 50 between 10 and 25 µg/mL), while the extract from Aspergillus tamarri was considered inactive (IC 50 > 100 µg/mL).…”

“…On the other hand, Ateba et al. () pointed out three fungi extracts with great activity against chloroquine‐resistant P. falciparum and little cytotoxic against the human embryonic kidney HEK293T cells.…”

Elucidating Mechanisms of Endophytes Used in Plant Protection and Other Bioactivities With Multifunctional Prospects

“…Malaria is still one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in the world with over 3.3 billion people living with the ongoing risk of transmission (Ateba et al, 2018). In 2016, about 91 countries reported ∼216 million new cases of malaria and 445,000 mortalities.…”

“…In 2016, about 91 countries reported ∼216 million new cases of malaria and 445,000 mortalities. The people most affected by malaria are those people that live in the subtropical and tropical regions of the world, people from Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa where ∼80% of cases of malaria recorded are traceable to Plasmodium falciparum (Ateba et al, 2018). The recent widespread of anti-drug resistant malaria parasites makes the search for alternative and new malarial treatment drugs urgent (D'alessandro, 2009).…”