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

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/02/2017
Views (741)
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

Unravelling the complex interactions between microplastics and PPCPs: The environment and health implications

Roshy Ann Mathews, S. Rajakumar, N. Aishwarya, M. Prashanthi Devi, Int. J. Biosci. 27(5), 40-72, November 2025.

Nutraceutical value of Gigantochloa atter and Bambusa blumeana

Eddilyn B. Plaza, Gemma A. Gruyal, Int. J. Biosci. 27(5), 34-39, November 2025.

Absence of climatic factors influence on the prevalence of COVID-19 in Benin: A spatiotemporal analysis

Houndonougbo Antoine, Lagaki Koudousse, Dramane Gado, Chogolou Ruth, Sanoussi Falilath, Kissira Islamiath, Sohou Stephane, Oloukou Freedy, Senou Elie, Yadouleton Anges, Int. J. Biosci. 27(5), 16-23, November 2025.

Isopulegol mitigates high glucose-induced oxidative stress in HK-2 cells via activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway

Mathew Maria Caroline Rebellow, Ravishankar Sarumathi, Chandrasekaran Sankaranarayanan, Int. J. Biosci. 27(5), 6-15, November 2025.

Exploring Ctenolepis garcinii as a natural anti-diabetic agent: A phytochemical, biochemical and molecular docking approach

A. M. Thafshila Aafrin, R. Anuradha, Int. J. Biosci. 27(4), 208-214, October 2025.

Assessment of the population dynamics of microorganisms in mountainous brown soils of Gobustan in relation to soil-climate conditions

Zohra N. Mammadzada, Basti N. Alyeva, Sevinch J. Garayeva, Nizami R. Namazov, Int. J. Biosci. 27(4), 203-207, October 2025.