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Bioactivity and chemical screening of endophytic fungi associated with seaweeds Gracilaria sp. and Sargassum sp. of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh

Summary

Researchers discovered several types of fungi living inside seaweed from Bangladesh’s Bay of Bengal coast. These fungi produce natural compounds that can fight bacteria, reduce harmful oxidative damage, and potentially kill cancer cells. The study identified specific chemical compounds responsible for these beneficial properties, suggesting these fungi could be useful sources for developing new medicines.

Background

Endophytic fungi are known to produce bioactive secondary metabolites with pharmaceutical potential. Marine fungi remain relatively underexplored compared to terrestrial fungi. This study investigates seaweed-associated endophytic fungi from the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh, which has not been comprehensively explored.

Objective

To isolate and identify endophytic fungi from red seaweed Gracilaria sp. and brown seaweed Sargassum sp., evaluate their biological potential, and perform metabolite profiling of the fungal extracts.

Results

Six fungal isolates were identified: Aspergillus subversicolor, A. terreus, and Cladosporium halotolerans from Gracilaria sp.; Chaetomium globosum, A. terreus, and Curvularia perotidis from Sargassum sp. Chaetomium globosum showed significant antibacterial activity (21±0.3 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa). A. terreus from Sargassum sp. exhibited the strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ 7.88±0.09 µg/mL). All extracts showed significant cytotoxicity (LC₅₀ ≤20.39±4.04 µg/mL).

Conclusion

The endophytic fungi isolated from Gracilaria and Sargassum seaweeds demonstrate significant antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic potential. The identified bioactive chemical compounds, including fatty acids and their esters, likely contribute to the observed bioactivity. These findings support seaweed-associated endophytic fungi as valuable resources for discovering novel bioactive compounds.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 40341363, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-00099-y
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