Antimicrobial, antibiofilm and antioxidant activities of bioactive secondary metabolites of marine Scarus ghobban gut-associated Aspergillus niger: In-vitro and in-silico studies

Abstract Fungal extracts have garnered significant interest in recent years for their diverse applications in pharmaceutical field. This research focused on isolating fungi from the gut of Scarus ghobban for the first time and evaluate their biological activities Aspergillus niger was successfully i...

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Main Authors: Hagar Abdellatief, Amira E. Sehim, Amany M. Emam, Mahmoud Amer, Sawsan Dacrory, Amr H. Hashem
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06605-6
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author Hagar Abdellatief
Amira E. Sehim
Amany M. Emam
Mahmoud Amer
Sawsan Dacrory
Amr H. Hashem
author_facet Hagar Abdellatief
Amira E. Sehim
Amany M. Emam
Mahmoud Amer
Sawsan Dacrory
Amr H. Hashem
author_sort Hagar Abdellatief
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Fungal extracts have garnered significant interest in recent years for their diverse applications in pharmaceutical field. This research focused on isolating fungi from the gut of Scarus ghobban for the first time and evaluate their biological activities Aspergillus niger was successfully isolated and identified using morphological and molecular techniques. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the ethyl acetate extract (EA) of A. niger revealed eight compounds, with diisooctyl phthalate (54.32%) and 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis (2-methoxyethyl) ester (26.32%) as the most abundant. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis identified catechol (15.41 µg/mL) and syringenic acid (13.25 µg/mL) as prominent phenolic compounds in the extract. The EA extract exhibited significant antibacterial activity toward pathogenic bacterial strains, with the highest inhibition zone (32 ± 0.1 mm) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 7.8 µg/mL against Bacillus subtilis. Additionally, it showed antifungal activity against Candida tropicalis (MIC 7.8 µg/mL) and Candida albicans (MIC 31.25 µg/mL). The extract also demonstrated potential antibiofilm activity against Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Escherichia coli, with inhibition percentages exceeding 87%. Moreover, it exhibited potent antioxidant activity IC50 8.17 µg/mL. Transmission electron microscopy revealed severe structural damage in B. subtilis, emphasizing the extract’s antibacterial effectiveness and potential for therapeutic applications. Eventually, docking studies and computational calculations have been utilized to demonstrate the reactivity of the molecules. In conclusion, the ethyl acetate extract of A. niger from gut of S. ghobban demonstrates significant antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant activities, highlighting its potential as a valuable resource for developing effective antimicrobial agents and therapeutic applications.
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spelling doaj-art-e926eef0bece48e8bc5262576ac1c2832025-08-20T03:45:23ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111810.1038/s41598-025-06605-6Antimicrobial, antibiofilm and antioxidant activities of bioactive secondary metabolites of marine Scarus ghobban gut-associated Aspergillus niger: In-vitro and in-silico studiesHagar Abdellatief0Amira E. Sehim1Amany M. Emam2Mahmoud Amer3Sawsan Dacrory4Amr H. Hashem5Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Benha UniversityBotany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Benha UniversityBotany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Benha UniversityBotany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Benha UniversityCellulose and Paper Department, National Research CentreBotany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar UniversityAbstract Fungal extracts have garnered significant interest in recent years for their diverse applications in pharmaceutical field. This research focused on isolating fungi from the gut of Scarus ghobban for the first time and evaluate their biological activities Aspergillus niger was successfully isolated and identified using morphological and molecular techniques. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the ethyl acetate extract (EA) of A. niger revealed eight compounds, with diisooctyl phthalate (54.32%) and 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis (2-methoxyethyl) ester (26.32%) as the most abundant. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis identified catechol (15.41 µg/mL) and syringenic acid (13.25 µg/mL) as prominent phenolic compounds in the extract. The EA extract exhibited significant antibacterial activity toward pathogenic bacterial strains, with the highest inhibition zone (32 ± 0.1 mm) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 7.8 µg/mL against Bacillus subtilis. Additionally, it showed antifungal activity against Candida tropicalis (MIC 7.8 µg/mL) and Candida albicans (MIC 31.25 µg/mL). The extract also demonstrated potential antibiofilm activity against Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Escherichia coli, with inhibition percentages exceeding 87%. Moreover, it exhibited potent antioxidant activity IC50 8.17 µg/mL. Transmission electron microscopy revealed severe structural damage in B. subtilis, emphasizing the extract’s antibacterial effectiveness and potential for therapeutic applications. Eventually, docking studies and computational calculations have been utilized to demonstrate the reactivity of the molecules. In conclusion, the ethyl acetate extract of A. niger from gut of S. ghobban demonstrates significant antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant activities, highlighting its potential as a valuable resource for developing effective antimicrobial agents and therapeutic applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06605-6Fish gut associated -fungiAntibacterialAntibiofilmGas cromatography–mass spectrometryTransmission electron microscopyDocking study
spellingShingle Hagar Abdellatief
Amira E. Sehim
Amany M. Emam
Mahmoud Amer
Sawsan Dacrory
Amr H. Hashem
Antimicrobial, antibiofilm and antioxidant activities of bioactive secondary metabolites of marine Scarus ghobban gut-associated Aspergillus niger: In-vitro and in-silico studies
Scientific Reports
Fish gut associated -fungi
Antibacterial
Antibiofilm
Gas cromatography–mass spectrometry
Transmission electron microscopy
Docking study
title Antimicrobial, antibiofilm and antioxidant activities of bioactive secondary metabolites of marine Scarus ghobban gut-associated Aspergillus niger: In-vitro and in-silico studies
title_full Antimicrobial, antibiofilm and antioxidant activities of bioactive secondary metabolites of marine Scarus ghobban gut-associated Aspergillus niger: In-vitro and in-silico studies
title_fullStr Antimicrobial, antibiofilm and antioxidant activities of bioactive secondary metabolites of marine Scarus ghobban gut-associated Aspergillus niger: In-vitro and in-silico studies
title_full_unstemmed Antimicrobial, antibiofilm and antioxidant activities of bioactive secondary metabolites of marine Scarus ghobban gut-associated Aspergillus niger: In-vitro and in-silico studies
title_short Antimicrobial, antibiofilm and antioxidant activities of bioactive secondary metabolites of marine Scarus ghobban gut-associated Aspergillus niger: In-vitro and in-silico studies
title_sort antimicrobial antibiofilm and antioxidant activities of bioactive secondary metabolites of marine scarus ghobban gut associated aspergillus niger in vitro and in silico studies
topic Fish gut associated -fungi
Antibacterial
Antibiofilm
Gas cromatography–mass spectrometry
Transmission electron microscopy
Docking study
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06605-6
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