Endophyte Chaetomium, Potential Bioactivity: Pharmaceutical and Phytochemical Analyses

Abstract

Abstract Endophytic fungi establish mutualistic symbiotic relationships with plants, wherein their interactions facilitate the production of bioactive secondary metabolites by the fungal cells. The objective of this study is to examine the antioxidative, anticancer, cytotoxic, and antiviral properties of crude metabolites from the fungal endophytes Chaetomium laterale LC4146 and Chaetomium interruptum CBS126660. Chromatographic separation and metabolic main chemical identification were also addressed. Semi-purified extracts showed radical-inhibiting or 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-radical-scavenging capabilities. The crude ethyl acetate extract of C. interruptum has the highest inhibitory activity against human liver (HepG2), prostate (PC-3), and colorectal (HCT-116) cancer cells and interestingly shows low toxicity to normal Vero African Green Monkey kidney cells. Fungi extract exerted dose-dependent anticancer effects on three cancer cell lines, with observable alterations in the shape and morphology of HepG2 cells under an inverted microscope. To test the in vitroanti- Herpes Simplex Virus type-1 (HSV-1) efficiency of ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extracts, the cytopathic effect inhibition was weak to moderate. Phytochemical examination of fungal extracts revealed phenolics, esters, alcohols, and hydrocarbons. Hexanedioic acid, 2,4-ditert-butylphenol, 1,2-benzene dicarboxylic acid, and 1-hexadecanol are the most bioactive successful chemicals. Since these unique bioactive components of fungal extract were acceptable in vitro, the two Chaetomium species may be a viable source of natural products and a good starting point for medicinal applications.