Sains Malaysiana 45(7)(2016): 1063–1071

Initial Screening of Mangrove Endophytic Fungi for Antimicrobial Compounds and Heavy Metal Biosorption Potential

(Saringan Awal Kulat Bakau Endofit untuk Potensi Sebatian Antimikrob dan Bioserapan Logam Berat)

ONN, M. LING¹*, LIM, P. TEEN², AAZANI MUJAHID², PETER PROKSCH³

& MORITZ MÜLLER¹

¹Biotechnology, School of Engineering Computing and Science, Swinburne University

of Technology, Sarawak Campus, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

²Department of Aquatic Science, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 93400 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia

³Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Universität Düsseldorf, Germany

Received: 20 October 2013/Accepted: 29 January 2016

ABSTRACT

Endophytic fungi provide protection to their host plant and the fungi often produce antimicrobial compounds to aid the host fighting off pathogens. These bioactive compounds were secondary metabolites which were often produced as waste- or by-products. In the present study, endophytic fungi isolated from mangrove plants and soils were characterized and their antimicrobial production and bioremediation potential of heavy metals copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were assessed. Twelve (12) isolated and identified endophytic fungi belonged to seven species; Penicillium, Curvularia, Diaporthe, Aspergillus, Guignardia, Neusartorya and Eupenicillium. Antimicrobial activities of these 12 fungal endophytes were tested against Gram negative bacteria; Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Gram positive bacteria; Escherichia coli and fungi; Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger among others. Two isolates (related to Guignardia sp. and Neusartoya sp.) showed strong antimicrobial (and antifungal) activity whereas the rest showed no activity. Compounds were isolated from both isolates and screened using HPLC. Both isolates displayed chemically very interesting chromatograms as they possessed a high diversity of basic chemical structures and peaks over a wide range of polarities, with structures similar to Trimeric catechin and Helenalin among others. For bioremediation assessment, the results showed maximum biosorption capacity for two isolates related to Curvularia sp. and Neusartorya sp., with the former removing 25 mg Cu/g biomass and the latter removing 24 mg Zn/g biomass. Our results indicated the potential of mangrove endophytic fungi in producing bioactive compounds and also highlighted their potential for the treatment of heavy metal-contaminated wastewater.

Keywords: Antimicrobial; bioactive compounds; biosorption; endophytic fungi; heavy metals; mangroves

ABSTRAK

Kulat endofit memberi perlindungan kepada perumah mereka dan seringkali menghasilkan sebatian antimikrob untuk membantu perumah melawan patogen. Sebatian bioaktif ini adalah metabolit sekunder yang sering dihasilkan sebagai bahan buangan atau keluaran sampingan. Dalam kajian ini, kulat endofit yang diasingkan daripada tumbuhan bakau dan tanah telah dikelaskan dan pengeluaran serta potensi bioremediasi logam berat tembaga (Cu) dan zink (Zn) telah dinilai. Duabelas (12) kulat endofit telah dipencilkan dan dikenal pasti terdiri daripada tujuh spesies; Penicillium, Curvularia, Diaporthe, Aspergillus, Guignardia, Neusartorya dan Eupenicillium. Aktiviti antimikrob daripada 12 kulat endofit ini telah diuji terhadap Gram bakteria negatif; Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Gram bakteria positif; Escherichia coli dan kulat; Candida albicans dan Aspergillus niger. Dua pencilan (daripada Guignardia sp. dan Neusartoya sp.) telah menunjukkan aktiviti antimikrob yang kuat (dan anti-kulat) sedangkan yang lain tidak menunjukkan sebarang aktiviti. Sebatian telah diasingkan daripada kedua-dua pencilan diasing dan disaring menggunakan HPLC. Kedua-dua pencilan menunjukkan kromatogram yang sangat menarik kerana mereka mempunyai kepelbagaian yang tinggi dalam struktur kimia asas dan punca kepelbagai polariti, dengan struktur yang sama dengan Trimeric catechin dan Helenalin antara lainnya. Bagi penilaian potensi bioremediasi, keputusan menunjukkan keupayaan bioserapan maksimum pada dua pencilan yang berkaitan dengan Curvularia sp. dan Neusartorya sp., dengan Curvularia sp. mengeluarkan 25 mg Cu/g biojisim dan Neusartorya sp. mengeluarkan 24 mg Zn/g biojisim. Keputusan kami menunjukkan potensi kulat endofit bakau dalam menghasilkan sebatian bioaktif dan juga menyerlahkan potensi mereka untuk rawatan air yang tercemar dengan sisa logam berat.

Kata kunci: Antimikrob; bakau; bioserapan; kompaun bioaktif; kulat endofit; logam berat

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*Corresponding author; email: onnmayling@hotmail.com