CHEMICAL PROFILE AND SCHISTOSOMICIDAL INVESTIGATION OF A MARINE-DERIVED FUNGUS Penicillium citrinum

Purpose: Fungi isolated from the marine environment are known sources of biologically active secondary metabolites. The fungus  Penicillium citrinum  is broadly distributed and consistently draws the attention of researchers due the presence of compounds of various classes isolated from this species earlier including alkaloids, polyketides and triterpenoids. This study aimed to assess the chemical profile and the cytotoxicity and schistosomicidal activities of crude extract from P. citrinum associated to the ascidian Didemnum perlucidum . Methods: The preparation of the extract was carried out in AcOEt by cold maceration during three days, resulting in the crude extract (4A14), and then subjected to C-18 filtration using a MeOH/H 2 O gradient (10% to 100% methanol), giving the fractions 4A14_A to 4A14_E. The extract and fractions were analyzed by TLC and HPLC-DAD. The extract was in vitro evaluated for schistosomicidal activity against adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni , over a period of 5 days at different concentrations 12.5 to 200.0 µg/mL and also tested for cytotoxic activity against normal human fibroblasts cells (GM07492A). Results: 4A14 reduced 100% in non-significant motor activity of adult worms at the concentration of 12.5 µg/mL in 24 hours. About the citotoxicity assay, 4A14 showed IC 50 >2500 μg/mL compared to control cells, presenting no cytotoxicity. The chromatographic procedure performed with extract 4A14 provided fractions of distinct chemical profiles. Conclusion : These results will lead to sequence of chemical research looking for the active compounds of Penicillium citrinum.