Enzymatic Modulators from Induratia spp

Abstract

In the present work, ethyl acetate extracts, consisting of non-volatile compounds, from the culture of endophytic fungi isolated from coffee plants, Induratia coffeana and Induratia yucatanensis, were prospected in enzyme modulation tests that act in human hemostasis. Dry extracts of the fungi were diluted in dimethyl sulfoxide p.a. 99.9% (DMSO), and then tested. Bothrops atrox venom was used as an enzyme source and tool to induce the activities. Prior to the evaluation of the activities, incubations of the extracts with the venom were performed in the proportions 1: 0.01, 1: 0.25, 1: 0.5, and 1: 1 (venom: extract; mass: mass). The extracts of all fungi promoted a significant increase in the clotting time induced by the venom, which was even longer when the extracts were previously incubated with the citrated plasma. The activity of phospholipases A₂ did not significantly change when evaluated in the presence of fungal extracts. However, the evaluated extracts inhibited proteases by 73% and 30% in the thrombolytic and caseinolytic tests, respectively. In addition, the extracts did not induce cytotoxicity on human erythrocytes when evaluated in the absence of the venom. Thus, it is possible to suggest the presence of specific interactions between molecules present in extracts of Induratia spp. and venom proteases, highlighting non-volatile metabolites as promising sources of compounds of medical and scientific interest.