Weak Membrane Stabilizing Activity of Sydowinin B and Pitholide B

Background: There is a dire need for anti-inflammatory agents presently to solve many health challenges. Extracts of endophytic fungi have been implicated a lot in this area. The aim of the study was to test isolated compounds from the extract of Pestalotiopsis clavispora residing in Phoenix reclinata.

Methods: Fungal isolation from Phoenix reclinata, cultivation, extraction isolation of compounds, characterisation and membrane stabilisation assay were carried out by standard methods.

Results and Discussion: From the extract of P. clavispora, was isolated three compounds which are 7,8-dihydroxanthenone-8-carboxylic acid methyl ester,sydowinin B and pitholide B. The fungus was from the mangrove plant Phoenix reclinata Jacq. (Arecaceae).

Sydowinin B and pitholide B exhibited a very weak membrane stabilizing activity of 4.5 and 2% respectively, at 100 µg/mL and 5% at 200 µg/mL for the two compounds.

Conclusion: The compounds have not been isolated before from this fungus and they exhibited a very weak membrane stabilizing activity.