Isolation and characterization of lovastatin producing fungi; investigating the antimicrobial and extracellular enzymatic activities

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/02/2017
Views (883)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Isolation and characterization of lovastatin producing fungi; investigating the antimicrobial and extracellular enzymatic activities

Mishal Subhan, Syeda Besma Sabir, Yasmeen Akhtar, Samiullah khan, Ian Macreadie, Rani Frayal
Int. J. Biosci. 10(2), 12-20, February 2017.
Copyright Statement: Copyright 2017; The Author(s).
License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Abstract

Lovastatin is the drug used to reduce blood cholesterol serum levels. The present study includes the isolation of new fungal species such as Aspergillus terreus to produce lovastatin and other key secondary metabolites that can be effectively used as antimicrobial agents. New strain was characterized by morphological and molecular identification. Lovastatin was produced by Aspergillus terreus by submerged fermentation, and the levels of lovastatin produced were calculated to be 405mg/l. The initial characterization of crude extract was done by yeast inhibition bioassays, thin layer chromatography and Fourier transform-Infrared spectroscopy and later confirmed by high performance chromatographic analysis. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of crude extracts were determined including the assessment of enzymatic potential of fungal Aspergillus terreus. The study concludes that Aspergillus terreus is the newly isolated fungal strain that is a potent producer of lovastatin, exhibiting various other biologically important characteristics that can be used for the exploitation in various industries.

De Castro AP, Fernandes GR, Franco OL. 2014. Insights into novel antimicrobial compounds and antibiotic resistance genes from soil metagenomes. Frontiers in Microbiology 5, 489. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00489

Gardes M, Bruns TD. 1993. ITS primers with enhanced specificity for Basidiomycetes – application to the identification of mycorrhizae and rusts. Molecular Ecology 2, 113-118. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365294X.1993.tb00005.x

Lingappa K, VivekBabu CS, Siddalingeshwar KG. 2004. Isolation, screening and rapid confirmation of lovastatin producing strains of Aspergillus terreus. Indian Journal of Microbiology 2, 133-135.

Petit P, Lucas EM, Abreu LM, Pfenning LH, Takahashi JA. 2009. Novel antimicrobial secondary metabolites from a Penicillium sp. isolated from Brazilian cerrado soil. Electronic Journal of Biotechnology 12, 8-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S071734582009000400008

Qiao J, Kontoyiannis DP, Wan Z, Li R, Liu W. 2007. Antifungal activity of statins against Aspergillus species. Medical Mycology 45, 589-593. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1369378070139767

Rajeswari KR, Abbul UK, Viswandham M, Tejaswini MS. 2012. Studies on dissolution enhancement of lovastatin using soluplus by solid dispersion technique. International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 4, 124-128.

Samiee SM, Moazami N, Haghighi S, Aziz Mohseni F, Mirdamadi S, Bakhtiari MR. 2003. Screening of lovastatin production by filamentous fungi. Iranian Biomedical Journal 7, 29-33.

Srividya S, Prakash C. 2014. Bioprospecting of lovastatin producing fungi isolated from soil samples. International Research Journal of Biological Sciences 3, 42-46.

Subhan M, Faryal R, Macreadie I. 2016. Exploitation of Aspergillus terreus for the production of natural statins. Journal of Fungi 2, 13. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jof2020013

Flachner B, Réczey K. 2004. β-glucosidase production and characterization of some Aspergillus strains. Chemical Biochemical Engineering 18, 303-307.

Avinash KS, Ashwini HS, RameshBabu HN, Krishnamurthy YL. 2015Antimicrobial potential of crude extract of Curvularia lunata, an endophytic fungi isolated from Cymbopogon caesius, Journal of Mycology 2015, 1-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/185821

Related Articles

Comparative responses of rice (Oryza sativa L.) to iron toxicity, drought and salinity stress: Morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular regulation mechanisms

Yaya Touré*, Brahima André Soumahoro, Arthur Martin Affery, Tchoa Koné, Mongomaké Koné, Int. J. Biosci. 28(6), 37-50, June 2026.

Biocontrol potential of indigenous fungal antagonists from soils naturally suppressive to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4

Arnel V. Somolostro*, Carolina D. Amper, Mellprie B. Marin, Darwin M. Apistar, Myrna G. Ballentes, Ailyn Q. Daniel, Int. J. Biosci. 28(6), 27-36, June 2026.

Basal stem rot of oil palm in Africa: Emerging epidemiology, pathogen diversity and future management challenges

Emmanuel Fumbuka Mabula*, Agatha Aloyce, Alfonce Leonard, Pavithravani B. Venkataramana, Int. J. Biosci. 28(6), 13-26, June 2026.

The role of aberrant glycosylation in autoimmune disease development and progression

Md. Nafis Fuad Prottoy, Sayad Md. Didarul Alam*, Int. J. Biosci. 28(6), 1-12, June 2026.

Solvents’ influence on polyphenolic compound extractions from Lippia multiflora leaves (Mold, 1949), and their antioxidant activity

Kelemin Awa Koné*, Tagouèlbè Tiho, Mariam Sanogo, Casimir Kekou, Kouassi Hervé Tani, Int. J. Biosci. 28(5), 109-116, May 2026.

Economics of selected cropping system practices in the province of La Union, Philippines

Jennifer A. Cabading, V. Sagun Analyn, Angelina T. Gonzales*, Int. J. Biosci. 28(5), 97-108, May 2026.

The hidden burden: A review of toxicity from femoral orthopedic implants

Haroon Habib Beigh*, Nabeel Khan, Mirza Masroor Ali Beg, Int. J. Biosci. 28(5), 84-96, May 2026.