Anti-microbial and anti-mycotoxigenic activities of endophytic Alternaria alternata isolated from Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don.: molecular characterisation and bioactive compound isolation

• Published in: Mycology Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 40 - 48
• Main Authors: Sudharshana, T. N., Venkatesh, H. N., Nayana, Borah, Manjunath, K., Mohana, D. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 02.01.2019; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Acetic acid; aflatoxin B; Aflatoxin B1; Alternaria alternata; anti-microbial activity; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Bioactive compounds; Biological activity; Catharanthus roseus; Coumaric acid; Endophytes; Endophytic Alternaria alternata; Ergosterol; Ethyl acetate; ethyl acetate extract; fumonisin B; Fumonisin B1; Fungi; Microbial activity; Microorganisms; Mycotoxins; p-Coumaric acid; Yeast; ethyl acetate extract; p-Coumaric acid; aflatoxin B1; Endophytic Alternaria alternata; anti-microbial activity; fumonisin B1
• ISSN: 2150-1203; 2150-1211
• DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2018.1541933

The present study investigated the anti-microbial and anti-mycotoxigenic activities of the ethyl acetate extract (EA) and a bioactive compound obtained from an endophytic fungus Alternaria alternata isolated from Catharanthus roseus leaves. A. alternata was identified using PCR-based 5.8S rDNA sequencing. The EA and bioactive compound, p-Coumaric acid (PC), showed concentration-dependent broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity against the tested bacteria, yeast, and fungi with MICs ranging from 7.8 to 250 µg/mL. The in vitro production of aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) from Aspergillus flavus and fumonisin B 1 (FB 1 ) from Fusarium verticillioides was completely inhibited by EA and PC at 400 µg/mL. The synthesis of the membrane-bound ergosterol from A. flavus and F. verticillioides was strongly inhibited by PC at 200 µg/mL. The EA and PC were found to show significant anti-microbial and anti-mycotoxigenic activities, hence, they could be explored as protective agents for preventing microbial deterioration and mycotoxins accumulation in food and feedstuffs during pre- and post-harvest and storage.