Antimicrobial chemical constituents from endophytic fungus Phoma sp.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the antimicrobial potential of different extracts of the endophytic fungus Phoma sp. and the tentative identification of their active constituents.MethodsThe extract and compounds were screened for antimicrobial activity using the Agar Well Diffusion Method. Four compounds were purified using column chromatography and their structures were assigned using ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra, DEPT, 2D COSY, HMQC and HMBC experiments.ResultsThe ethyl acetate fraction of Phoma sp. showed good antifungal, antibacterial, and algicidal properties. One new dihydrofuran derivative, named phomafuranol (1), together with three known compounds, phomalacton (2), (3R)-5-hydroxymellein (3) and emodin (4) were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of Phoma sp. Preliminary studies indicated that phomalacton (2) displayed strong antibacterial, good antifungal and antialgal activities. Similarly (3R)-5-hydroxymellein (3) and emodin (4) showed good antifungal, antibacterial and algicidal properties.ConclusionsAntimicrobial activities of the ethyl acetate fraction of the endophytic fungus Phoma sp. and isolated compounds clearly demonstrate that Phoma sp. and its active compounds represent a great potential for the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.