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Leishmanicidal and antitumoral activities of endophytic fungi associated with the Antarctic angiosperms Deschampsia antarctica Desv. and Colobanthus quitensis (Kunth) Bartl.

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Abstract

A total of 564 isolates of endophytic fungi were recovered from the plants Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis collected from Antarctica. The isolates were screened against parasites Leishmania amazonensis and Trypanosoma cruzi and against the human tumour cell lines. Of the 313 fungal isolates obtained from D. antarctica and 251 from C. quitensis, 25 displayed biological activity. Nineteen extracts displayed leishmanicidal activity, and six inhibited the growth of at least one tumour cell line. These fungi belong to 19 taxa of the genera Alternaria, Antarctomyces, Cadophora, Davidiella, Helgardia, Herpotrichia, Microdochium, Oculimacula, Phaeosphaeria and one unidentified fungus. Extracts of 12 fungal isolates inhibited the proliferation of L. amazonesis at a low IC50 of between 0.2 and 12.5 μg ml−1. The fungus Phaeosphaeria herpotrichoides displayed only leishmanicidal activity with an IC50 of 0.2 μg ml−1, which is equivalent to the inhibitory value of amphotericin B. The extract of Microdochium phragmitis displayed specific cytotoxic activity against the UACC-62 cell line with an IC50 value of 12.5 μg ml−1. Our results indicate that the unique angiosperms living in Antarctica shelter an interesting bioactive fungal community that is able to produce antiprotozoal and antitumoral molecules. These molecules may be used to develop new leishmanicidal and anticancer drugs.

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Acknowledgments

This study had financial and logistic support from the Brazilian Antarctic Program, Marine of Brazil and Clube Alpino Paulista. This work is part of the API activity 403 and contributes to Microbiological and Ecological Responses to Global Environmental Changes in Polar Regions and INCT Criosfera. The authors would also like to express our great appreciation to Isis Galliza, Daniela N.B. Maia, Luciana F. Soares, and Fernanda L.M. Francisco for performing biological activities. It was financially supported by the Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P.O. Box 486, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil

    Iara F. Santiago, Carlos A. Rosa & Luiz H. Rosa

  2. Laboratório de Química de Produtos Naturais, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Tânia M. A. Alves & Carlos L. Zani

  3. Laboratório de Pesquisas Clínicas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Ana Rabello

  4. Laboratório de Parasitologia Celular e Molecular Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Policarpo A. Sales Junior & Alvaro J. Romanha

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  1. Iara F. Santiago
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  2. Tânia M. A. Alves
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  3. Ana Rabello
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  4. Policarpo A. Sales Junior
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  5. Alvaro J. Romanha
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  6. Carlos L. Zani
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  7. Carlos A. Rosa
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  8. Luiz H. Rosa
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Correspondence to Luiz H. Rosa.

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Communicated by M. da Costa.

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Santiago, I.F., Alves, T.M.A., Rabello, A. et al. Leishmanicidal and antitumoral activities of endophytic fungi associated with the Antarctic angiosperms Deschampsia antarctica Desv. and Colobanthus quitensis (Kunth) Bartl.. Extremophiles 16, 95–103 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-011-0409-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-011-0409-9

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