Bioguided antileishmanial activity from arthrinium state of Apiospora montagnei endophytic fungus extracts

Leishmaniasis is a public health problem lacking efficient therapies to control this protozoan disease. Endophytic fungi are promising source of bioactive secondary metabolites due in part of their close interaction with the host plants. In the present study, the endophytic fungus Arthrinium state of Apiospora montagnei isolated from Smallanthus sonchifolius (Asteraceae) was cultivated in a liquid medium under standardized culture condition. After that, the biomass obtained was extracted with ethyl acetate to furnish the extract codified as AmE. AmE was evaluated against three Leishmania promastigotes strains and showed an IC₅₀ value very promising (4.87 µg/ml). In order to identify its active compounds, AmE was chromatographed over silica gel using vacuum liquid chromatography and furnished seven new fractions (AmE1-AmE7). The obtained fractions were also biologically investigated and AmE5 was the most active (0.81µg/ml). Based on thus, AmE5 was submitted to several chromatography techniques and the two main compounds were obtained. Their chemical structures are being established by NMR data and further investigation against strains of L. braziliensis will be performed.