Antibacterial metabolites from the beetle-associated fungus Penicillium chrysogenum

An Acad Bras Cienc. 2023 Jul 17;95(suppl 1):e20220178. doi: 10.1590/0001-3765202320220178. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

The antibacterial secondary metabolites of the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum associated with the beetle Aspongopus chinensis were investigated through chromatographic fractionation methods of ethyl acetate extracts of the fungal cultures. Five compounds were isolated, and their structures were determined as emodin, 4-(methoxymethyl)benzoic acid, isoochracinic acid, secalonic acid D, and dicerandrol A using mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analyses. Emodin exhibited strong antimicrobial activity, especially against Staphylococcus aureus even when growing on cooked pork, with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 6.3 μg/mL. Dimeric tetrahydroxanthones, such as secalonic acid D and dicerandrol A, also exhibited potent activity, with MIC values ranging from 9.5 to 28.5 μg/mL. In summary, P. chrysogenum was isolated as a symbiotic fungus of the beetle A. chinensis for the first time and this strain could generate antibacterial secondary metabolites, which could potently inhibit gram-positive bacteria growth in vitro.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Coleoptera*
  • Emodin*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Penicillium chrysogenum* / chemistry
  • Penicillium*
  • Staphylococcus aureus

Substances

  • Emodin
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents