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