Anticancer Activity of Secondary Metabolites Extracted from Endophytic Fungus in Pongamia pinnata Barks

Mahmood, Bassam Shaker; Faisal, Anwer Jaber; Thanoon, Allaa Hatim; Saeed, Baraa Ahmed; Sulaiman, Ghassan M.; Malla, Sudhakar

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.7.2645

Anticancer Activity of Secondary Metabolites Extracted from Endophytic Fungus in Pongamia pinnata Barks

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Biotechnology Department, Applied Science College, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq.

² Iraqi Center for Cancer and Medical Genetic Research, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq.

³ Ibn Sina University of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Iraq, Baghdad.

⁴ Insearch Biotech laboratory, Hennur cross. Bangalore, India.

10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.7.2645

Abstract

Background and objective: Endophytic fungi, particularly Trichoderma species, offer significant potential for the isolation of novel natural bioactive compounds with diverse applications in agriculture, medicine, and the food industry. These compounds are reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally safe. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of secondary metabolites extracted from Trichoderma species against the JURKAT cell line. Methods: Trichoderma species were utilized in the fermentation process to produce secondary metabolites, which were subsequently evaluated for anticancer activity against the JURKAT cell line using MTT, LDH, apoptotic assays, and gene expression studies. Results: The study demonstrated that the ethyl acetate extract of Trichoderma secondary metabolites significantly reduced cell viability and increased LDH leakage, indicating potent anti-proliferative activity against the JURKAT cell line. Cytotoxicity ranged from 35.12 ± 0.45% to 58.56 ± 1.16% at varying concentrations. The extract significantly increased the percentage of cells arrested in the G2/M phase from 8.48% to 21.11%, while reducing cell viability from 94.3% to 54.35% and elevating early apoptotic cells from 1.12% to 21.34%. Real-time PCR analysis revealed a dose-dependent upregulation of the caspase 3 gene, whereas caspase 8 was downregulated. Conclusion: The secondary metabolites extracted from Trichoderma show promise for further early-stage clinical trials, including pharmacodynamic studies and in vivo investigations using animal models. In conclusion, these extracts exhibit significant anti-carcinogenic potential and could serve as a therapeutic agent for treating leukaemia.

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