Exploring Bioactive Metabolites From Fusarium falciforme and Aspergillus terreus Isolated From Protease-Rich Fruits: Antifungal, Antitrypanosomal, and Enzymatic Inhibitory Activities

Fungal secondary metabolites display remarkable chemical diversity and biological potential, with applications in agriculture and pharmaceuticals. This study isolated and characterized bioactive metabolites from two phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium falciforme (from papaya) and Aspergillus terreus (from pineapple), assessing their antifungal and cysteine protease-inhibitory activities. The compounds hymeglusin, fusaridioic acid A, and butyrolactone I exhibited significant antifungal effects, with hymeglusin (IC50 22.12 mu g/mL) inhibiting A. terreus and butyrolactone I (IC50 39.72 mu g/mL) inhibiting F. falciforme. These metabolites also strongly inhibited papain, with IC50 values of 6.24 mu M (butyrolactone I), 9.38 mu M (hymeglusin), and 28.58 mu M (fusaridioic acid A). Butyrolactone I exhibited the highest antitrypanosomal activity (IC50 24.72 mu M), highlighting its antiparasitic potential. These findings emphasize the biotechnological significance of fungal metabolites for antifungal, protease-inhibitory, and antiparasitic applications while also shedding light on their ecological role in host-pathogen interactions.