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Planta Med 2012; 78(14): 1562-1567
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1315146
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

In Vitro Acanthamoebicidal Activity of Fusaric Acid and Dehydrofusaric Acid from an Endophytic Fungus Fusarium sp. Tlau3

Narumon Boonman
1   Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
,
Surasak Prachya
2   Chulabhorn Research Institute, Laksi, Bangkok, Thailand
,
Atsadang Boonmee
1   Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
,
Prasat Kittakoop
2   Chulabhorn Research Institute, Laksi, Bangkok, Thailand
3   Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Chemical Biology Program, Laksi, Bangkok, Thailand
,
Suthep Wiyakrutta
1   Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
,
Nongluksna Sriubolmas
4   School of Pharmacy, Eastern Asia University, Pathumthani, Thailand
,
Saradee Warit
5   TB Research Laboratory, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, NSTDA, Pathumthani, Thailand
,
Araya Dharmkrong-at Chusattayanond
1   Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 08 February 2012
revised 02 July 2012

accepted 05 July 2012

Publication Date:
03 August 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Acanthamoeba is a genus of free-living protozoa that can cause sight- and life-threatening diseases in man. Its control is still problematic due to the lack of effective and nontoxic acanthamoebicidal agents. Herein, we report the first finding of an in vitro killing effect of fusaric acid and dehydrofusaric acid, isolated from metabolites of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex Tlau3, on Acanthamoeba trophozoites isolated from two clinical (AS, AR) and two soil (S3, S5) samples. AS, AR, and S3 were classified as members of the T4 genotype, whereas S5 belongs to T5. The fungal extract was found to exhibit acanthamoebicidal activity, and activity-guided fractionation led to the isolation and identification of active principles, fusaric acid and dehydrofusaric acid. Their effects were in concentration- and time-dependent manners. Fusaric acid and dehydrofusaric acid showed IC50 values against AS trophozoites of 0.31 and 0.34 µM, respectively. Commercial fusaric acid displayed the same acanthamoebicidal activity as that of the isolated fusaric acid, and therefore, commercial fusaric acid was used throughout this study. IC50 values of commercial fusaric acid against AR, S3, and S5 trophozoites were 0.33, 0.33, and 0.66 µM, respectively. Fusaric acid calcium salt has a history of usage as a hypotensive agent in humans with no observed toxicity. The present study suggests that fusaric acid may serve as a starting point for the development towards therapeutic and environmental acanthamoebicides with low toxicity to humans.

Key words

Fusarium fujikuroi species complex - Nectriaceae - acanthamoebicidal activity - T4 and T5 Acanthamoeba - fusaric acid - dehydrofusaric acid

Supporting Information

 

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