Objective: To identify biological activities of secondary metabolites obtained from penicillium and aspergillus species..
Methods: The experimental study was conducted from December 2014 to November 2015 and comprised aspergillus and penicillium species that were isolated from the top soil of Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, and Mian Rashid Hussain Shaheed Memorial Hospital, Pabbi, both in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. To produce secondary metabolites, the species were grown in Czapek yeast broth. Fungal metabolites were extracted from the broth medium and were checked for anti-tuberculous, phytotoxic and insecticidal activities. Anti-tuberculous activity was checked against M.TB strains. Phytotoxicity was tested against Lemna minor plant, while insecticidal activities were performed against tribolium castaneum and rhyzopertha dominica.
Results: Secondary metabolites of aspergillus were active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis whereas those of penicillium showed no significant inhibitory activity (p>0.05). Penicillium metabolites at 1000 µg/ml concentration showed significant (>80%) phytotoxic activity. Aspergillus metabolites showed good (60-80%) insecticidal activity against tribolium castaneum and low (20-40%) activity against rhyzopertha dominica. Penicillium metabolites showed moderate (40-60%) activity against tribolium castaneum and low (20-40%) activity against rhyzopertha dominica..
Conclusions: Secondary metabolites of both fungi contained some biologically active compounds. These metabolites could be further investigated for isolation of bioactive substances in purified form.
Keywords: Aspergillus, Penicillium, Anti-tuberculous, Phytotoxic, Insecticidal, Secondary metabolites.