Secondary Metabolite Profiling of the Endophytic Fungus Trichoderma longibrachiatum L2D2 Isolated from Anaphalis contorta

Abstract

In the last few decades, research on endophytic fungi has been increasing due to its applications in agriculture, medicine, and the pharmaceutical industry. Many studies indicate that fungal endophytes produce various types of bioactive compounds. In this study, the endophytic fungus Trichoderma longibrachiatum L2D2 was isolated from the leaf of the medicinal plant Anaphalis contorta and secondary metabolites were collected. The crude extract was analyzed for the presence of seven phytochemicals, and it was observed that alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids were produced. It was also found that the endophyte extract had a total flavonoid content of 126.07 (µg of quercetin equivalent/mg) and a total phenolic content of 43.97 (µg of gallic acid equivalent/mg). The Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis reveals the presence of the major compound Dithiooxamide, which has a retention time (RT) of 50.030%, and the Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) study shows the most abundant compounds as Hexanal (RT of 3.687 min) in positive ionization and Rosamultin (RT of 24.387 min) in negative ionization. Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy analysis also shows the presence of alcohol, aldehyde, aliphatic ether, aliphatic primary amine, alkene, alkyl halide, amine, aromatic amine, aromatic compound, carboxylic acid, ketone, phenol, and sulfoxide as functional groups. Further studies, like the purification of bioactive compounds and their biological activities, will reveal the applicability of T. longibrachiatum L2D2 in industries.