Medical Mycology: Open Access

Characterization of Bioactive Compounds of Antimicrobial Metabolites Extracted from Soil Fungi

Background

The global spread of bacterial resistance has significantly contributed to the increased mortality and morbidity of patients clinically due to the shortage of suitable and potent antibiotics. The concept of searching for new antibiotics in this era of antibiotic resistance pandemic remains vital therefore fungi inhabiting uncultivated soil was examined for the antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Methods

Soil samples were collected from uncultivated farmland for fungi isolation. The isolation was done using Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and secondary metabolites of fungi were extracted using ethyl acetate as the solvent and the extract was dissolved with DMSO. The occurrence of bioactive compounds was carried out using GC-MS analysis. The antimicrobial susceptibility assay for the metabolites was carried out using the disc diffusion technique and zones of inhibition were measured with a vernier caliper.

Findings

The preliminary antimicrobial screening was carried out on two hundred and fifty-six (256) fungal isolates. Only forty-three (43) of the isolates were able to exhibit antimicrobial capabilities and they were identified to belong to the genera of Aspergillus and Penicillium. The pathogens used as test organisms were multidrug resistance with the maximum mean zone of inhibition to be 25.3±4.619. Crude extract of the fungi was active against all the pathogens with the maximum mean of a zone of inhibition to be 26.0±0.000 however the minimum was 14.0±0.000 zone of inhibition. The activity of the extracted metabolites ranges from 14.0±0.000 to 22.0±0.000 zone of inhibition.

Conclusion

There was the presence of different bioactive compounds like aromatic compounds, terpenes, steroids in the fungal metabolites. Fungi still constitute vital sources of antimicrobial substances and subsequently generate potential antibiotics for the treatment of diseases.

Author(s):

Abstract | Full-Text | PDF

Share this