Bioactive Properties of the Aqueous Extracts of Endophytic Fungi Associated with Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) Roots

Abstract

Despite the continuing interest in various plant and natural products, only a small portion of the biologically active compounds from nature has been discovered and exploited. In this study, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of aqueous fractions of three endophytic fungi isolated from the roots of 8-year-old Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris) growing on a drained peatland were investigated. The endophytic fungi species were Acephala applanata, Phialocephala fortinii, and Humicolopsis cephalosporioides/Coniochaeta mutabilis. The bioactivities were examined using hydrogen peroxide scavenging and oxygen radical absorbance capacity tests as well as sensitive Escherichia coli-based biosensors, which produce a luminescent signal in the presence of substances with oxidative or genotoxic properties. In addition, cell models for Parkinsonʼs disease, age-related macular degeneration, and osteoarthritis were used to evaluate the potential for pharmaceutical applications. The aqueous extracts of fungi and 19 out of 42 fractions were found to be active in one or more of the tests used. However, no activity was found in the age-related macular degeneration and osteoarthritis cell model tests. Additionally, bioactivity data was connected with metabolites putatively annotated, and out of 330 metabolites, 177 were interesting in view of the bioactivities investigated. A majority of these were peptides and all three fungal species shared a highly similar metabolome. We propose that Scots pine endophytic fungi are a rich source of interesting metabolites, and synergistic effects may cause the bioactivities, as they were found to vary after the fractionation process.

Salix spp. Bark Hot Water Extracts Show Antiviral, Antibacterial, and Antioxidant Activities—The Bioactive Properties of 16 Clones

“…The inhibition of fluorescein breakdown indicates the antioxidant’s protective ability. The experimental setup is described in detail by Tienaho et al (2020) . Briefly, the assay was carried out using four dilutions of each sample, with two technical replicates, by mixing the sample in 0.075 M phosphate buffer pH 7.5 (Merck) with 8.16 × 10 –5 mM fluorescein (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Steinheim, Germany) and 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Steinheim, Germany).…”

“…Activity was determined using a method modified from Hazra et al (2008) and Jiang et al (1990) . The experimental setup has been described in detail by Tienaho et al (2020) . In brief, an aliquot of 2 mM H 2 O 2 (Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) was added to the reaction mixture with the sample and a mixture containing 2.56 mM ammonium ferrous (II) sulfate (BDH Prolabo) in 0.25 mM H 2 SO 4 (Merck KGaA) and 27.8 µM xylenol orange disodium salt (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Steinheim, Germany) in 4.4 mM sorbitol (D(-)-sorbitol, AppliChem GmbH).…”

Ultraviolet absorbance of Sphagnum magellanicum, S. fallax and S. fuscum extracts with seasonal and species-specific variation

“…The used methodology was modified from the methods described by Hazra et al [7] and Jiang et al [8]. In brief, four technical replicates of 30 µL were measured in 96-well format as in Välimaa et al [15] or Tienaho et al [16]. An aliquot of 2 mM H 2 O 2 (Merck KGaA, Darmstadt Germany) was added to the reaction mixture with the sample, 111 µM xylenol orange disodium salt (Sigma Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Steinheim, Germany) and 2.56 mM ammonium iron (II) sulphate•6H 2 O (BDH Prolabo).…”

“…The used methodology is modified from the methods described by Huang et al [9] and Prior et al [10]. In brief, two technical replicates of 50 µL were measured in 96-well format as in Välimaa et al [15] or in Tienaho et al [16]. All samples were measured with a series of five dilutions (1:1-1:320) and additional dilutions were added when necessary to adjust the sample concentrations to the 0.153 mM Trolox (( ±)-6-Hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchromane-2-carboxylic acid) (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Steinheim, Germany) standard curve.…”

Chemical composition and bioactivity of hemp, reed canary grass and common reed grown on boreal marginal lands

“…The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) test measures a potential antioxidant's ability to prevent peroxyl radicals from harming the fluorescent fluorescein molecule. The method was modified from those described by Huang et al 66 and Pior et al 67 In brief, two technical replicates of 50 μL were measured in the 96-well format as in Tienaho et al 68 All the samples were measured with a series of five dilutions (1 : 1–1 : 320) and additional dilutions were made when necessary to adjust the sample concentrations to the 0.153 mM Trolox ((±)-6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchromane-2-carboxylic acid) standard curve. The reaction mixture contained the sample dilution in 75 mM phosphate buffer pH 7.5, 150 μL of 8.16 × 10 −5 mM fluorescein and 25 μL of 2,2′-azobis (2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride.…”