Anticancer and Antimalarial Effects of Fungal Extracts from Medicinal Plants

Jenn Hoskins
27th August, 2024

Anticancer and Antimalarial Effects of Fungal Extracts from Medicinal Plants

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • Researchers from Renaissance University studied fungi from three medicinal plants for potential antimalarial and anticancer properties
  • The fungal extract from Lasiodiplodia theobromae showed strong antimalarial activity against drug-resistant malaria parasites without harming human red blood cells
  • All three fungal extracts exhibited low toxicity to human cells, suggesting they could be safe for therapeutic use
Ethnomedicinal plants have long been a source of therapeutic agents, and recent research from Renaissance University[1] has investigated the potential of endophytic fungi from these plants to produce bioactive compounds with antiplasmodial and anticancer properties. Endophytic fungi live inside plant tissues without causing disease and can produce a variety of secondary metabolites with significant biological activities[2][3]. This study focused on three medicinal plants and their associated endophytic fungi: Lasiodiplodia theobromae from Cola acuminata, Curvularia lunata Bv4 from Bambusa vulgaris, and Curvularia lunata Eg7 from Elaeis guineensis. The researchers identified these fungi using ITS-rDNA sequencing, a method for determining the genetic identity of organisms. They then subjected the fungi to solid-state fermentation, a process that allows the fungi to grow and produce secondary metabolites. These metabolites were extracted using ethyl acetate, a solvent that helps isolate the bioactive compounds. To test the antiplasmodial activity of the fungal extracts, the researchers used the SYBR green I-based fluorescence assay on the chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strain DD2. This assay measures the ability of the extracts to inhibit the growth of the malaria-causing parasite. The extract from L. theobromae showed the most promising antiplasmodial activity with an IC50 value of 5.4 µg/mL, indicating its potential to inhibit the parasite at low concentrations. Importantly, this extract was not harmful to human red blood cells, suggesting it could be a safe treatment option. The cytotoxicity of the extracts was also assessed using the MTT assay on Jurkat (leukemia) cells. All three fungal extracts exhibited weak cytotoxic effects, with CC50 values greater than 100 µg/mL, indicating low toxicity to human cells. This is a crucial finding as it suggests that the extracts could be used in therapeutic applications without causing significant harm to human cells. Further analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed the presence of forty major bioactive compounds in the fungal extracts. Some of these compounds, such as oxalic acid, isobutyl nonyl ester, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, and hexadecanoic acid, are known for their diverse biological activities. These findings align with previous studies highlighting the potential of natural products from microorganisms in developing new therapeutic agents[4]. The study's results are promising for several reasons. First, they demonstrate that endophytic fungi from ethnomedicinal plants can be a source of bioactive compounds with significant antiplasmodial activity, particularly against drug-resistant strains of P. falciparum. This is crucial in the ongoing fight against malaria, where resistance to existing drugs is a growing problem. Second, the low cytotoxicity of the extracts suggests they could be developed into safe treatments for human use. The research also highlights the importance of proper identification and cultivation methods in studying endophytic fungi. As noted in previous reviews, methodological biases can affect the results of such studies[2]. By using ITS-rDNA sequencing and carefully controlled fermentation and extraction processes, the researchers ensured the accuracy and reliability of their findings. In conclusion, the study from Renaissance University builds on existing knowledge about the potential of endophytic fungi to produce valuable bioactive compounds. By identifying and testing extracts from fungi associated with ethnomedicinal plants, the researchers have uncovered promising candidates for developing new antimalarial and anticancer drugs. These findings underscore the importance of exploring natural products and leveraging advanced biotechnological methods to address critical health challenges.

MedicineBiochemMycology

References

Main Study

1) In vitro antiplasmodial and anticancer analyses of endophytic fungal extracts isolated from selected Nigerian medicinal plants.

Published 26th August, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66456-5

Related Studies

2) Methods used for the study of endophytic fungi: a review on methodologies and challenges, and associated tips.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-022-03283-0

3) Endophytic fungi: a tool for plant growth promotion and sustainable agriculture.

https://doi.org/10.1080/21501203.2021.1945699

4) A Review of the Microbial Production of Bioactive Natural Products and Biologics.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.01404


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