Investigation on bioactive metabolites produced by an endophytic fungus Trichoderma citrinoviride from the arils of Torreya grandis

Abstract

An endophytic fungus Trichoderma citrinoviride capable of producing active substances was isolated from the arils of Torreya grandis. Seven compounds were separated from the ethyl acetate extract of fermentation broth and mycelium by chromatography, respectively identified as trichomerol (1), bisorbicillinolide (2), sohirnone A (3), emodin (4), stigmasterol (5), ergosterol (6), daidzein (7). This study is the first to report of the isolation of the endophytic fungus T. citrinoviride from the arils of T. grandis with complete assignments of 1-7. Compound 1 and 2 exhibited significant antioxidant activity of diphenyl picryl hydrazinyl with IC₅₀ 38.92 and 3.91 µg/mL, respectively. Compound 1, 2, 4 and 7 significantly inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus with MIC 0.78; 0.39; 0.20 and 0.20 mg/mL, respectively. Current study indicated the presence of endophytic fungus in the arils of Torreya grandis that could be responsible for the bioactive metabolite synthesis.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Torreya grandis
• endophytic fungi
• Trichoderma citrinoviride

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a key project funded by science and technology department of Zhejiang province under Grant No. 2018C02017, No. 2020C02040, No. 2020C02041 and No. 2020C02055.