Usep Suhendar, Rieskha Fawziah, Bina Lohita Sari, Sata Yoshida Srie Rahayu, Lilik Sulastri, Ratna Wulandari, Dede Anisa, Raisa Namira

Qualitative Profiling of Antimalarial Compounds from Endophytic Fungi Associated with Rhizophora mucronata

Introduction

Qualitative profiling of antimalarial compounds from endophytic fungi associated with rhizophora mucronata. Discover potential antimalarial compounds from endophytic fungi associated with mangrove Rhizophora mucronata. Study identifies antiplasmodial alkaloids and flavonoids, highlighting their promise for drug discovery.

Abstract

Malaria remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases worldwide, underscoring the urgent need for novel antimalarial sources. Endophytic fungi associated with mangrove roots of Rhizophora mucronata represent promising candidates, as they are capable of synthesizing secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids with known antiplasmodial activity. This study aimed to qualitatively identify antimalarial bioactive compounds from endophytic fungal extracts previously exhibiting the highest heme polymerization–inhibition activity. Fungal isolates were fermented in liquid medium for 21 days and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extracts were profiled by Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) using two solvent systems: n-hexane : ethyl acetate (5:1) and dichloromethane : methanol (10:1). Band visualization was performed under UV light (254 nm and 366 nm) and with semi-specific reagents (Dragendorff and citro-boric), followed by Rf value comparison. TLC analysis revealed blue-green fluorescent bands corresponding to flavonoids and brown-orange bands indicative of alkaloids, with optimal Rf values of 0.46 (n-hexane : ethyl acetate) and 0.54 (dichloromethane : methanol). These findings confirm the presence of key antimalarial compound classes in the endophytic fungal extract, supporting its potential as a coastal bioresource for drug discovery and development.

Review

The manuscript, "Qualitative Profiling of Antimalarial Compounds from Endophytic Fungi Associated with Rhizophora mucronata," addresses a critical global health challenge: the urgent need for novel antimalarial agents. The authors appropriately target endophytic fungi from mangrove ecosystems, specifically *Rhizophora mucronata*, as a promising and underexplored source of bioactive secondary metabolites. This approach is well-justified given the known antiplasmodial activity of compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids, which these fungi are capable of producing. The study's objective to qualitatively identify antimalarial compounds from extracts previously shown to exhibit heme polymerization–inhibition activity is a logical and important initial step in a drug discovery pipeline. The experimental design involved standard procedures for microbial secondary metabolite extraction, including fermentation in liquid medium and ethyl acetate extraction. The core methodology centered on Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) using two distinct solvent systems (n-hexane:ethyl acetate and dichloromethane:methanol) and a combination of UV visualization (254 nm and 366 nm) and semi-specific spray reagents (Dragendorff for alkaloids, citro-boric for flavonoids). This multi-faceted approach to TLC profiling is robust for qualitative identification. The results clearly indicated the presence of blue-green fluorescent bands consistent with flavonoids and brown-orange bands reacting positively to Dragendorff, indicative of alkaloids, with reported optimal Rf values. While the study is qualitative, these findings provide compelling preliminary evidence for the presence of these important compound classes in the fungal extracts. A significant strength of this work lies in its foundational identification of promising antimalarial compound classes from a novel and ecologically relevant source, laying the groundwork for further investigations. The use of multiple visualization techniques enhances the reliability of the qualitative assignments. However, as the title implies, the study is purely qualitative. Future research should prioritize quantitative analysis, structural elucidation of the identified compounds (e.g., via LC-MS/MS, NMR), and further in vitro and potentially in vivo antiplasmodial efficacy assessments, ideally through bioassay-guided fractionation. Connecting the identified compound classes more directly to the previously observed heme polymerization inhibition activity would also strengthen the narrative. Despite its preliminary nature, this paper serves as a valuable precursor, strongly supporting the potential of these endophytic fungi as a rich coastal bioresource for the discovery and development of much-needed antimalarial drugs.

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