Open-access Botrytis cinerea: acetylcholinesterase inhibition, cytotoxicity, antimicrobial, larvicidal activity and metabolite isolated from fungal extract

Abstract

This study highlights the importance of fungi, specifically Botrytis cinerea Pers., in the search for bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential. Extraction approaches using Soxhlet, and maceration methods were applied of the fungus to explore secondary metabolites production. The compound mannitol was separated from the crude extract through nuclear magnetic resonance. The results indicated a positive effect on the inhibitory action of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme for ethyl acetate fractions obtained from the broth. Additionally, significant cytotoxic effects were observed in neoplastic cell lines, with IC 50 values of 3.5 μg/mL, 5.6 μg/mL, and 8.5 μg/ mL for colon cancer cells, monocytes, and human glioma, respectively. Antimicrobial activity was also evident in B. cinerea extracts and fractions, particularly in the ethyl acetate fractions from the broth. Larvicidal activity was observed in the chloroform fractions of the broth, with CL50 values of 20,824 μg/mL and 83,401 μg/mL. Furthermore, morphological changes in larvae were observed when exposed to the fungus’s extracts and fractions. The results suggest that B. cinerea extracts and fractions have the potential to identify substances with applications in biological activities, such as cytotoxic, antimicrobial, and larvicidal actions. Continued research is recommended to investigate compounds responsible for these activities and explore their potential applications.

Keywords:  Acetylcholinesterase; Cytotoxicity; Antimicrobial; Larvicidal; Botrytis cinerea

INTRODUCTION

A wide variety of organisms, especially fungi, produce compounds that are considered sources of bioactive substances. Popularly known as “gray mold,” Botrytis cinerea Pers. is a phytopathogenic fungus that attacks more than 200 types of crops and can cause post-harvest losses of up to 40% of cultivable plants. Therefore, infection by this pathogen is extremely commercially harmful (Escobar-Niño et al ., ( 2019 ); Wang et al ., ( 2022 ); Ripardo-Filho et al ., ( 2023 )).

Several processes are involved in the mechanism of B. cinerea infection, including the production of enzymes. Through these enzymes, the pathogen can trigger the death of the host cell (Morževska, Bankina, Kaneps, ( 2019 )). Another process involves the contribution of the fungus to the formation of reactive oxygen species during the host-pathogen interaction, a condition called oxidative explosion. For this, the fungus has an antioxidant system and enzymes that help eliminate reactive oxygen species (Elad, Filinger, ( 2016 )).

Lastly, the secondary production of metabolites includes substances and phytotoxins produced by fungi, which successfully contribute to carrying out an infection (Collado, Aleu, Hernández-Galán, ( 2000 ))

In this sense, the action of these toxic metabolites on biological activities is of great interest, as phytopathogenic fungi have been investigated for their ability to produce compounds with a wide variety of activities, including antifungal, antibiotic, and biocontrol activities. Furthermore, several studies have examined the production of metabolites by fungi and provided good overall results in this aspect (Salvatore, Andolfi, ( 2021 )).

A series of factors justify the number of studies carried out with B. cinerea . Existing research focuses on the fungus as a pathogen, secreter of numerous enzymes, and producer of low molecular weight compounds and other substances of interest (Daoubi et al. , ( 2006 )).

Numerous metabolites have been identified in the in vitro mycelium of B. cinerea , predominantly two phytotoxins: botrydial and botcinic acid. Whole-genome sequencing and annotation revealed genes dedicated to terpenes, non-ribosomal peptides, and alkaloids. This indicates a vast potential for the discovery of substances that have not yet been described (Collado, Viaud, ( 2015 )). Therefore, the purpose of this work is to identify a substance and explore still little-known biological activities of the fungus B. cinerea , as well as possible applications of its extracts and fractions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The Cultivation of B. cinerea

The B. cinerea isolate was obtained from the Forest Fungus Collection of Embrapa Forestry. Initially isolated from Pinus taeda seedlings, it was submitted for sequencing of the ITS regions of the ribosomal DNA for identification at the species level through comparison with sequences deposited in GenBank. The pathogen B. cinerea ( Botryotinia fuckeliana [de Bary] Whetzel), deposited under the code KJ476441, was identified.

The B. cinerea was harvested and cultivated in 9 cm Petri dishes containing agar (BDA; KASVI ® ) potato dextrose medium. It was maintained in a Biological Organism Development (BOD) chamber at 22 °C in the dark (Alfenas, Mafia, ( 2007 )) until the complete production of hyphae, mycelia, and conidia was achieved.

Extracts

Cultivation of the fungus was carried out in liquid potato-dextrose broth (39 g of potato-dextrose extract and 1000 mL of ultrapurified water q.s.p.) to evaluate biomass growth. After 30 days of fungus growth in the liquid medium, the culture broth was filtered in a vacuum filtration system using a sintered funnel to separate the mycelium. It was then dried at 40 °C for 12 hours in a vacuum oven. To obtain the crude extract (CE) of B. cinerea , a Soxhlet apparatus was used with 96° G.L. ethanol for 8 hours. The crude extracts were partitioned on a modified Soxhlet. The resulting fractions were the hexane fraction (HF), the chloroform fraction (CLF), the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) and the residual fractions (RF). The same samples were obtained through 24-hour ethanolic maceration. Extracts and crude fractions were concentrated to protect free solvents.

Identification of metabolites

Nuclear magnetic resonance was carried out using CDCl at 294 K on a Bruker ® DPX 200 MHz NMR spectrometer at 4.7 Tesla, observing 1 H and 13 C at 200.12 and 50.56 MHz, respectively. The chemical shifts (ppm) were determined with respect to an internal reference (TMS: 0.00 ppm) and coupling constants (J) were measured in Hz. The metabolites were identified by Attenuated Total Reflectance–Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR–FTIR; FT-IR Bruker ® ).

Acetylcholinesterase Activity

To evaluate acetylcholinesterase activity, the protocol from Silva et al . (( 2016 )) was adopted. Dugesia tigrina individuals collected from freshwater rivers were subjected to the administration of the extracts and fractions for 12 hours at concentrations of 200 μg/mL, in triplicates with 15 individuals each. Then, the individuals were manually homogenized in a porcelain mortar with 1.0 mL of 0.05 M Tris/HCl encourager (pH 8.0) and centrifuged at 17,000 rpm for 20 minutes at 4 ºC. The supernatants were collected, and an additional 1.0 mL of Tris/HCl preparatory was added. The concentration of proteins present was determined using Lowry et al . (( 1951 )) method, utilizing bovine serum albumin (31.25–500 µg/ mL) as a standard. For the acetylcholinesterase evaluation, 100 µL of D. tigrina homogenates were incubated with 20 µL of NADH, 20 µL of acetylthiocholine, and 0.062 µL of 0.25 mM Ellman’s reagent for 3 minutes at 25 ºC (Ellman et al ., ( 1961 )). The increase in absorbance was measured at 405 nm (ε, 13.6 mM -1 cm -1 ).

Cytotoxicity

For the cytotoxicity assay, the cell lines 87MG (human glioma), HT29 (colon cancer), U937 (monocytic), Thp1 (Human monocytic), K562 (human leukemia), and H460 (lung) were provided by the Multidisciplinary Center for Chemical, Biological, and Agricultural Research in Campinas, São Paulo.

The cells were stored in bottles of culture medium by the São Paulo-based company SPS Logística, following the guidelines of the Epidemiological and Sanitary Surveillance Manual (Silva, ( 2015 )). All cell handling was performed according to Freshney (( 2010 )).

Upon receiving them, the cells were transferred to new sterile culture bottles containing Dulbecco’s medium, 10% foetal bovine serum, 100 U/mL of penicillin, 0.1 mg/mL of streptomycin and 0.25 µg/mL of amphotericin (complete medium). They were kept at 27 ºC in an incubator with a humid atmosphere containing 5% CO 2 , for 24 hours. Since these cells were adherent, it was necessary to remove them with trypsin solution (0.25% + 1 mM acetic acid) in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4). Following this, they were transferred to conical tubes containing a complete culture medium. After centrifugation at low speed, the medium and trypsin were discarded, and the cells were resuspended in a small volume of complete culture medium. For the Assay, cells from different lineages were washed and resuspended at 1 x 10 6 cells/mL in complete Dulbecco’s medium. Expanded cells were resuspended at 2 x 10 6 cells/mL in complete Dulbecco’s medium and three serial dilutions (3-fold) were performed. Aliquots of 100 μL of each serial dilution of cells containing 2x10 5 , 1x10 5 , and 0.5x10 5 cells were added per well into a 96-well U-bottom plate, in triplicates.

The cytotoxic potential was evaluated using the MTT assay (Denizot, Lang, ( 1986 ); Riss et al ., ( 2013 )). The cells (103 cells/well) were seeded in Roswell Park Memorial Institute 1640 medium (Sigma Chemical Co.), supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, in 96 well plates. They were incubated in a humid atmosphere with 5% CO 2 at 37 °C for 20 hours until complete adhesion to the surface (80% confluence). Then, the culture medium was replaced with a new medium supplemented with varying concentrations of the extracts and fractions (0.1–1000 μg/mL). The cells were then incubated at 37 °C with the extract’s concentrations for 48 hours. After incubation, approximately 10 µL of a stock solution containing 5 mg/mL of MTT in phosphate-buffered saline was added to each well containing the cells. This mixture was incubated again for 1 hour.

Following this incubation, the culture medium containing MTT and devoid of cells was aspirated from each well, and 100 µL of dimethyl sulfoxide was added to dissolve the dark blue formazan crystals that resulted from the reduction of MTT. The medium was then homogenized on a plate shaker. The extent of MTT reduction to formazan within the cells was measured using a microplate reader at 600 nm. As a positive control, doxorubicin was employed at concentrations ranging from 0.025 µg/mL to 25 µg/mL. The concentrations for the MTT curve (metabolization versus the logarithm of the concentrations used), which inhibits 50% of cell growth (IC 50 ), were calculated in µg/mL. To represent the IC 50 , the methodology proposed by Berridge, Herst and Tan (( 2005 )) and Nordin et al. (( 2018 )), was followed, where dose-response curves (percentage of cell survivability vs concentration) were generated using linear regression interpolation analysis to obtain IC 50 (minimum concentration of extracts that giving 50% survival of cells).

Antimicrobial activity

A collection of microorganisms was used, including seven bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus [ATCC 6538P], Staphylococcus epidermidis [ATCC 12228], Staphylococcus saprophyticus [ATCC 15305], Escherichia coli [ATCC 10536], Klebsiella pneumoniae and Shigella sonnei [ATCC 25931]) and fungi ( Candida albicans [ATCC 14053], Candida tropicalis [ATCC 28707], Cryptococcus neoformans [ATCC 90112].

The strains utilized in the present study were provided by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz/ INCQS) Laboratory of Reference Microorganisms, following the guidelines of the Epidemiological and Sanitary Surveillance Manual (Silva, ( 2015 )).

To evaluate the antimicrobial activity, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method was employed. For the assay, solutions of the extracts and dry fractions at a concentration of 1000 µg/mL, dissolved in 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide, were prepared (Salvat et al ., ( 2004 )). The MIC was determined in 96-well microplates using the microdilution method following the protocols outlined by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI ( 2008a ), ( 2008b )). Inoculum were prepared in test medium and adjusted to 0.5 MacFarland. Bacterial samples were prepared with a microorganism suspension of 5x10 5 UFC/ mL and for fungi, a suspension of 2.5x10 3 UFC/mL.

To determine the minimum lethal concentration (MLC) were determined by subculture of Mueller–Hinton agar microplates (applies to bacteria, incubated for 24 h at 37°C) and Sabouraud agar plates (applies to fungi, incubated by 48 h at 35°C). C. neoformans was incubated for 72 h at 35 °C (Cantón, Espinel-Ingroff, Pemán, ( 2009 ); Benkova, Soukup, Marek, ( 2020 )). Control and test samples were concurrently tested in triplicate (Hammer, Carson, Riley, ( 1999 )). The standards used were bacitracin as an antibiotic and Polymyxin B as an antifungal (Yousfi et al., ( 2019 )).

Larvicidal activity

The determination of the larvicidal activity of B. cinerea extracts and fractions against Aedes aegypti was carried out in accordance with the World Health Organization’s (WHO, ( 1981a )) guidelines with modifications. The eggs of A. aegypti from the Rockefeller lineage were supplied by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro. For hatching, the eggs were placed in a plastic tray, and 500 mL of dechlorinated water was added. They were then transferred to a BOD oven (Novatecnica, model NT 704) with a temperature of 27 ºC ± 2 and a relative humidity of 80% ± 5. The larvae’s diet consisted of fish chow (Aldon Basic, MEP 200 Complex) from the hatching period to the third larval instar. For the test, concentrated solutions of the extracts and fractions at a concentration of 1000 μg/ mL were prepared and solubilized in 0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide. These solutions were then diluted with chlorine-free water to achieve different concentrations: 1000 μg/mL, 100 μg/mL, and 10 μg/mL. Samples containing 15 larvae in the third instar were placed in plastic cups, and the volume was adjusted to 1 mL. For each concentration, 10 larvae were used in triplicate. A 0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide aqueous solution was used in triplicate as a negative control.

The insecticide used as a positive control was technical grade temephos 90% (batch 005/2011, manufactured by Fersol in Mairinque, São Paulo). It was calibrated according to the protocol recommended by WHO (( 1981a ), ( 1981b )) and Lima et al . (( 2003 )). This involved using 0.060 mg/mL as the diagnostic concentration, which is twice the lethal concentration that causes 99% mortality in a susceptible strain, as defined by WHO (( 1981a ), ( 1981b )). The protocol comprises the mortality response following exposure to the diagnostic concentration as well as exposure to a concentration gradient (multiple concentrations). The larvicidal activity was evaluated after 24 hours by counting the number of dead larvae in each sample. Moribund larvae, those unable to reach the water surface when touched, were considered dead (WHO, ( 1981a )). The lethal concentration values (LC 50 ) in μg/mL were determined using the probit analysis method (Finney, ( 1971 )).

For the evaluation of the internal and external morphology of the larvae, individuals in the fourth instar were selected due to their more developed tissues. The collected larvae were immediately fixed in a solution of 2% glutaraldehyde, 2% paraformaldehyde, and 3% sucrose in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer (pH 7.2). These fixed larvae were then stored at 25 ºC until the analysis stage (Arruda, Oliveira, Silva, ( 2003 )). Slides containing the larvae were prepared and photographed using a digital video camera (Leica) connected to a Zeiss inverted microscope (500 μm).

Statistical analysis

The data were statistically analyzed using the one-way ANOVA test, followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison tests. The software employed for these analyses was GraphPad Prism 9.5.1. For the antimicrobial activity data, the results were presented in terms of the minimum inhibitory concentrations and bactericidal concentrations.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Metabolite identification

The yellow-white amorphous powder that precipitated from the crude extract was identified as mannitol (C6H14O6, 182.17 g.mol -1 ; see Figure 1 ) using nuclear magnetic resonance, as outlined by Elias (( 2003 )), Branco et al . (( 2010 )), and Ferreira Alves (( 2014 )). The experimental 1 H chemical shifts (δ ppm) were as follows: 71.25 s, 69.64 s, 63.75 s. The experimental 13 C chemical shifts (δ ppm) were: 3.51 (C-1), 3.53 (C- 2), 3.58 (C-3), 4.12 (C-4’), 4.16 (C-5’), 4.33 (C-6’), 4.40 (C-7), 4.42 (C-8). Mannitol, a polyol with a molecular weight of 182.17 g.mol -1 , finds diverse applications in the industry (Kiviharju, Nyyssölä, ( 2008 )). Its uses span formulations, resin production, surfactants, and the manufacturing of dry electrolytic capacitors (Saha, Racine, ( 2011 ); Tomaszewska, Rywinska, Gładkowski, ( 2012 )). The production of bioethanol from mannitol has been the subject of multiple studies (Ota et al ., ( 2013 ); Wang et al ., ( 2013 ); Fasahati, Woo, Liu, ( 2015 )). From a clinical perspective, mannitol serves as a diuretic and hypertonic agent. Research indicates its role in enhancing drug transport through the blood-brain barrier, reducing intracranial pressure, lowering intraocular pressure, preventing or treating acute renal failure, and aiding in the excretion of toxins from the body (Tenny, Patel, Thorell, ( 2022 )). A substantial body of evidence suggests that mannitol acts as an antioxidant, protecting against oxidative stress (Patel, Williamson, ( 2016 )).

Figure 1
. Molecular structure of Mannitol .

Acetylcholinesterase activity

Acetylcholinesterase serves several applications, with one of the most important being for Alzheimer’s disease. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are used as a therapeutic strategy in the treatment of Alzheimer’s because they prevent neurotransmitter inhibition by increasing the brain’s acetylcholine level, by enhancing deficient brain cholinergic neurotransmission (Asaduzzaman et al ., ( 2014 ); Marucci et al ., ( 2021 )).

Accordingly, the extracts and fractions obtained from B. cinerea were tested for acetylcholinesterase. The extracts and fractions of the growth broth presented the most expressive results. The broth samples obtained by maceration obtained the following results: CE (0.01 µmol/min -1 ), CLF (0.03 µmol/min -1 ), and EAF (0.01 µmol/ min -1 ). The potential activity was also observed in the broth samples obtained by Soxhlet: HF (0.02 µmol/min -1 ), CLF (0.02 µmol/min -1 ), and EAF (0.01 µmol/min -1 ). The values obtained from the mycelium fractions following both maceration and Soxhlet were EAF (0.02 µmol/min - 1 ) and CLF (0.03 µmol/min -1 ), respectively ( Figure 2 ).

Thus, the effects demonstrated by the sample are indicative of the skillful potential of B. cinerea extracts and fractions as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor agent since, in some cases, the manifestations demonstrated a capacity similar to that of tacrine (0.03 µmol/min -1 ), a drug used as a reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Data for potential acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity have previously been reported for endophytic fungi (Singh et al ., ( 2012 ); Yu et al ., ( 2016 ); Popli et al ., ( 2018 )). A larger study conducted by Wang et al . (( 2016 )) selected a total of 247 endophytic fungi isolated from the plant Huperzia serrata to perform the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity test. The results of this study revealed that among these 221 fungi belonging to 41 distinct genera and 31 unidentified strains exhibited robust acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity.

Figure 2
. Acetylcholinesterase activity of Botrytis cinerea. Crude Extract (CE), Chloroform Fraction (CLF), Hexane Fraction (HF), Ethyl Acetate Fraction (EAF), Remaining Fraction (RF), Tacrine (Tac), Vehicle (V). *The means followed by the same letter do not differ according to Tukey’s test ( p < 0.05).

Cytotoxicity

Table 1 illustrates the cytotoxic activity of the crude extract and fractions of B. cinerea, which were evaluated by the MTT assay in neoplastic cell lines. The results show that there is variability due to the extract, fractions, and cell lines tested.

Table 1
. Cytoxicity Activity (IC 50 ) μg/mL of Botrytis cinerea

The cytotoxic effect of B. cinerea extracts and fractions was evaluated as described by Nordin et al. (( 2018 )). Where the results are based on the minimum concentration of extract that considers at least 50% of the survival capacity of IC 50 cancer cells. the results were interpreted according to four categories: very active (IC 50 ≤ 20 μg/mL), moderately active (IC50 \20–100 μg/mL), weakly active (IC50 \100– 1000 μg/mL) and inactive (IC50 \1000 μg/mL).

The samples obtained from the growth broth showed greater activity than in relation to the mycelium. The highlight is the broth obtained by EAF maceration, which was very active for all cell lines and appears to be more cytotoxic with an IC 50 of 3.5 μg/mL for HT29* (colon cancer strain), 5.6 μg /mL for U937* (monocytic strain) and 8.5 μg/mL for 87MG* (human glioma strain). Similar effects were also observed for CE and RF from the same extraction. Some fractions of the broth obtained by Soxhlet are also very active, however they seem to be influenced by the type of extraction. The samples obtained from the mycelium appear to be moderately active for the CE and EAF fractions from the maceration. The others are weak or inactive for the cell lines tested. The cytotoxic potential of other fungal species has been addressed in the literature. In a study by Katoch et al . (( 2014 )), it was found that the extracts of different fungi isolated from Bacopa monnieri exhibited cytotoxic activity, with an IC 50 value equal to 5 μg/mL for the extract of Phomopsis sp. against the cell line HCT-116 (colorectal carcinoma) and 6 μg/mL for the extract of Fusarium oxysporum for the A549 strain (lung cancer). The crude extracts of the marine fungus species Xylaria psidii and Mycelium sterillium were tested for their cytotoxicity against the human bladder carcinoma cell line 5637 (ATCC HTB-9). The strains showed IC 50 values of 4 μg/mL and 1.5 µg/mL, respectively. When these extracts are obtained through culture with seawater from the collection sites, the activity of the extracts is lower, with IC 50 values of 15 μg/mL and 14 μg/mL, respectively (Tarman et al ., ( 2011 )).

Previous studies have already demonstrated the potential of fungal extracts. Hazalin et al. (( 2009 )) demonstrated the cytotoxicity of the extracts of 40 species of fungi isolated from plants from Pahang National Park, Malaysia against P388 (murine leukemia) and K562 (chronic human leukemia) cells, showing that almost half (47.6%) of the extracts exhibited IC 50 < 10 μg/mL against the P388 strain compared to 25% active fungi against the K562 strain with IC50 <1 μg/mL.

Thus, the potential use of fungal extracts as candidates for the isolation and identification of substances that may demonstrate cytotoxic activity was demonstrated. The values found in the current study are compatible with the National Cancer Institute’s criteria for the potential cytotoxicity (IC 50 < 20 μg/ mL) of both plant extracts and other microorganisms (Lee, Houghton, ( 2005 )).

Antimicrobial activity

Phytopathogenic fungi can produce secondary metabolites with known antimicrobial activity, as is the case for the fungus Fusarium sp. (Xu et al., ( 2023 )) and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Nurunnabi et al., ( 2018 )). In this way, the antimicrobial activity of different types of extracts obtained from B. cinerea was tested, which showed good antimicrobial potential against the different strains tested.

Antimicrobial activity was evaluated according to the criteria of Morales et al. (( 2008 )). Therefore, extracts with an MIC lower than 100 μg/mL had good antimicrobial activity; from 100 μg/mL to 500 μg/mL the antimicrobial activity was moderate; from 500 μg/ mL to 1000 μg/mL the antimicrobial activity was weak; above 1000 μg/mL the extract was considered inactive. Broth extracts exhibited a greater antibacterial effect when compared to mycelium extracts, with the most effective results found for the broth extract obtained by Soxhlet extraction, where the EC and EAF exhibited MIC values equal to 25 µg/mL for the strains of S. aureus , S. epidermidis and S. saprophyticus . EAF was still effective at the same MIC for E. coli ( Table 2 ). The other extracts also exhibited activities between 50 and 500 µg/mL, with relevant MIC values being observed for the extracts and mycelium fractions.

Table 2
. Inhibitory concentration of Botrytis cinerea against bacterial strains

Antifungal activity was similar for broth extracts obtained by Soxhlet extraction, with MIC values equal to 25 µg/mL for C. albicans , C. tropicalis and C. neoformans . Equal MIC values were observed for EC against C.

neoformans strains. The FEA obtained from the broth obtained by maceration also presented the same MIC value for S. cerevisiae . The other extracts and fractions presented MIC values ranging from 50 to 500 µg/mL ( Table 3 ).

Table 3
. Inhibitory concentration of Botrytis cinerea against fungal strains

Rani et al. (( 2017 )) reported the use of extracts from 20 different species of fungi. Among these, Aspergillus nidulans , Curvularia hawaiiensis , Chaetomium arcuatum and Chaetomium atrobrunneum were the most effective in controlling the bacteria E. coli and S. aureus , whose MIC values varied between 15.6 μg/mL and 250 μg/ mL, respectively. In studies carried out with fungi isolated from Ophiopogon japonicus , Gibberella sp. presented MIC values equal to 20 μg/mL and 80 μg/mL for strains of S. aureus and C. neoformans , respectively, demonstrating that this strain can be a source of bioactive antibacterial agents (Liang et al., ( 2012 )).

Fungi have been presented as prototypes of antimicrobial substances, mainly as an alternative in cases of resistance that create a serious problem for health services. This scenario has required the exploration of new niches and habitats, which directs attention to fungi as they present a diversity of microbial captures that evolved in unique and unusual environments (Santos, ( 2015 )).

It is also important to correlate the results observed in the antimicrobial assay with the cytotoxicity assay for the EAF and CE samples obtained from the maceration broth. Compounds that have both activities are extensively studied, since substances that have antineoplastic and antimicrobial effects are important in the clinic of cancer patients who are more susceptible to infections. Studies focus on these substances and the possibility of interaction as antineoplastics and antibiotics or research focuses on the prolonged use of these substances and the occurrence of bacterial resistance in these patients (Henriksson, Holm, Littbrand, ( 1990 ); Majchrzak-Stiller et al., ( 2023 )).

Larvicidal activity

The determination of the larvicidal activity of the extracts and fractions of B. cinerea on A. aegypti was conducted. The chloroform fraction obtained from the broth extract obtained through maceration was the sample in which the bioinsecticide activity showed the greatest potential (CL 50 of 20.824 μg/ mL), followed by the chloroform fraction obtained from the broth extract obtained by Soxhlet extraction (CL 50 of 83.401 μg/mL), which exhibited a toxic effect against the larvae. Detailed outcomes are expressed in Table 4 . It is worth noting that some fungi report larvicidal activity against A. aegypti , as is the case with Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Murugesan et al ., ( 2009 )), Trichoderma harzianum (Sundaravadivelan, Padmanabhan, ( 2014 )), the endophyte Pestalotiopsis virgatula and the saprophyte Pycnoporus sanguineus (Bücker et al ., ( 2013 )), Aspergillus terreus (Ragavendran, Natarajan, ( 2015 )) and Hyalodendriella sp. (Mao et al ., ( 2017 )). Furthermore, phytotoxins obtained from Seiridium cupressi , Diplodia cupressi, and Ascochyta agropyrina also demonstrated bioactivity (Cimmino et al ., ( 2013 )).

Table 4
. Larvicidal Activity (LC 50 ) μg/mL of Botrytis

The analysis of the external morphology of the larvae highlighted some alterations. In this study, larvae treated with the extracts and fractions obtained from the fungus B. cinerea exhibited significant morphological changes that indicate the fungus’s contribution to their death, as shown in Figure 3 .

Figure 3
. Morphological changes in Aedes aegypti larvae submitted to the extract and fractions of Botrytis cinerea. A = control; B, C, D = narrowing of the midgut (arrows); E, F, G = inhibition of anal papillae (arrows); F, G, H, I = bowel leakage (arrows); I = cuticle darkening (arrows); J = disruption between the fat layer and the muscle epithelium (arrows); L = decrease in body fat (arrows); M, N, O, P = displacement of parts of the abdomen (arrows).

According to the literature, substances that are toxic to the insect act directly on the intestine receptors, causing abnormal development of the larva. As a defense mechanism, the larva extrudes from the intestine to the external environment to expel the contaminating agent and thus, reduce tissue damage (Valotto et al ., ( 2011 ); Revathi et al ., ( 2013 )). This is why the closure of the intestine, particularly in the middle region of the midgut, occurs.

The B. cinerea extracts also altered the body fat layer. This occurred because the feeding mechanism of the larvae was inhibited by intoxication. When the body fat is not supplemented, a place considered reserve storage is recruited. This reorganization is mediated by hormones for the maintenance of larval metamorphosis. Moreover, the intoxication provoked a rupture between the fat layer and the muscular epithelium of the segment. This can occur due to the degeneration of the epidermis and thickening of the cuticle (Conte, ( 1994 ); Cruz-Landim, Cruz-Hofling, ( 2000 )).

As claimed by Yu et al. (( 2015 )), extensive damage to the intestinal epithelium and peritrophic matrix decreases the survival capacity of the insect, as the midgut plays a key role in the secretion of digestive enzymes and absorption of nutrients. Therefore, damage to the midgut cells leads to larva death. This study also demonstrates the darkening of the cuticle and suppression of the anal papillae, which occurs due to the disruption of the larva’s ion regulation, causing an imbalance in homeostasis. Additionally, the destruction and rupture of the larval stigmal plate are caused by the destruction of the hydrophobic surface, leading to water from the medium entering the tracheal trunk, which impairs the breathing system of the larva. Suppression of anal papillae was also reported in Chaithong et al . (( 2006 )) study on the larvicidal activity of plants of the Piperaceae family on A. aegypti . Although intoxication did not cause visible morphological alterations, the anal papillae were found to be abnormal; ultrastructural analyses demonstrated that in these cases, the cuticle of the anal papillae is destroyed.

Another study by Grzybowski et al. (( 2013 )) demonstrated that the Annona squamosa extract tested against A. aegypti larvae was able to inhibit the production of NADH (ubiquinone oxidoreductase), which prevented the transport of electrons in mitochondrial complex I. The electrons in mitochondrial complex I prevented the production of adenosine triphosphate and caused the death of the insects, affecting the cellular muscles and contributing to the decrease of body fat.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the isolation of substances revealed the presence of mannitol, a compound recognized for its role in fungal metabolism and documented in the literature for various clinical and industrial applications. When the inhibitory action of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme was evaluated, it revealed inhibition power, with emphasis on the chloroform, ethyl acetate and hexane fractions, which may contain compounds that act against degenerative diseases. In the analysis of cytotoxicity, extracts and fractions exhibited significant toxic activity for certain cell lines, suggesting potential path for drug investigation in cancer treatment. Additionally, good antimicrobial activity was observed against bacterial and fungal strains, with particular emphasis on the ethyl acetate fractions obtained through maceration. The larvicidal activity study underscored the significant potential of chloroform fractions obtained by maceration. It is important to note that the extraction method employed influenced the observed biological activities. Furthermore, the cultivation time of the fungus in the growth broth was identified as a limitation for research. Considering the provided information, this study indicates that extracts and fractions of B. cinerea have potential application in several areas. However, more research is needed to detail the behaviour of these substances and their potential for use.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank the Higher Education Personnel Improvement Coordination (CAPES), Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) and Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) for providing scholarships and funding the project.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    09 Aug 2024
  • Date of issue
    2024

History

  • Received
    01 Sept 2023
  • Accepted
    22 Jan 2024
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E-mail: bjps@usp.br
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