Comparative Biological Evaluation of Six Endophytic Fungi Isolated From Vinca Rosea Leaves

Abstract

In this study, a total of six endophytic fungi have been isolated from Vinca rosea (Apocynaceae) leaves growing in Egypt. The isolated fungi were identified morphologically and microscopically up to species to be; Alternaria phragmospora, Aspergillus awamori, Penicillium duclauxii, Penicillium melinii, Nigrospora sphaerica and Mucor ramosissimus. The extracts of the all identified fungi were screened biologically for antileukemic, cytotoxic, antimalarial, antileishmanial, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities as well as for cannabinoid and opioid receptor binding affinities. Out of the six examined fungal extracts four exhibited promising antimalarial activities, four showed modeate antileukemic activities and two of them exhibited cytotoxic activities, three showed antioxidant activities, three exhibited anti-inflammatory activities, and the only one showed an antifungal activity. Alternaria phragmospora was the most active antimalarial agent inhibiting Plasmodium falciparum D6 and W2 clones with IC 50 values of 1.9 and 2.1 μg/mL, respectively. Alternaria phragmospora extract was subjected to liquid-liquid partition using 90% MeOH, hexane then BuOH and H 2 O. MeOH and BuOH fractions exhibited strong activities against Plasmodium falciparum D6 clone with IC 50 values of 1.3 and 28 μg/mL and W2 clone with IC 50 values of 1.4 and 28 μg/mL, respectively. These results may be an excellent opportunity to get a new antimalarial drug derived from endophytic fungi.

Traditional ancient Egyptian medicine: A review

“…Humans relied on nature as the main source of treatments since the dawn of history. In order to fulfill this need, he used different sources such as plants ( Han et al, 2019 , Metwaly et al, 2019 , Wang et al, 2019 ), marines ( El-Demerdash et al, 2021 , Sperstad et al, 2011 ), and microbes( Metwaly, 2019 , Metwaly et al, 2014a , Metwaly et al, 2017 ). Similarly, the ancient Egyptian pharmacopeia comprised a wide diversity of treatments, these treatments include minerals, metals, animals, and plant sources.…”