Arcopilus eremanthusum sp. nov. as sources of antibacterial and antioxidant metabolites

In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extracts of Arcopilus eremanthusum sp. nov. (CML3766) isolated from E. erythopappus. The fungi were identified using the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit (LSU), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2). Antibacterial activity was determined using the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) method. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using free radical scavenging methods with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS•+) assays and the β-carotene-linoleic acid system. The total phenolic compound content was measured using the Folin–Ciocalteu method. The endophytic fungal extract presented bactericidal activity, with an MBC of 2.44 and 19.5 μg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus GL 8702 and GL 5674, respectively, and 625 μg/mL for Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis. In addition, this fungus demonstrated an antioxidant activity of 52.30% protection in the β-carotene method. The total concentration of phenolic compounds was 23.73 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g. Ferulic acid, trans-cinnamic acid, chlorogenic acid, catechin, vanillin, p-coumaric acid, and caffeic acid were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. The results demonstrate the potential of A. eremanthusum sp. nov. to serve as a source of antibacterial and antioxidant metabolites with possible future biotechnological applications.