The aim of this study was to investigate the biological and chemical activity on two species of fungi of the genus Penicillium isolated from wastewater. On the selected species of fungi the different antioxidant activity assays were carried out: DPPH free-radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity, Fe2+- chelating ability and Fe3+- reducing power. Total phenol content was also determinate for ethanolic extract of mycelia. Penicillium chrysogenum ethanolic extract contained higher total phenolic content and better total antioxidant capacity as well as ferrous ion chelating ability. Penicillium fumiculosum ethanolic extract showed higher DPPH free-radical scavenging activity, as well as reducing power. Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that two types of fungi are potential new sources of natural antioxidants. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III 43004]

This work was conceptualized with the goal to investigate the phytochemical, free radical scavenging and antifungal profile of Cuscuta campestrisYunck. seeds. Total phenolics, amino acid and carbohydrate contents were evaluated in ethanolic, acetone and chloroform extract. Effective antioxidant activity was evaluated throughout seven antioxidant methods. The antifungal activity was assessed against eight fungal strains and Candida albicans. The results showed total phenol, flavonoid, flavonols and phenolic acids contents in amount of 1.51 - 6.35 mg GAE/mL, 78 - 425 μg RU/mL, 1.04 - 2.98 mg QU/g and 12.01 - 30.58 μg CAE/mL, respectively. The total amino acids and carbohydrates content ranged from 8.29 to 185.45 μg Gly/mL and from 0.05 to 0.12 μg Glu/mL. The ethanolic extract showed the best antioxidant activity in phosphomolybdenum, DPPH free radical scavenging, ferric reducing power and lipid peroxidation assays. The best activity in ferrous ion chelating and H O assays had the acetone extract, whereas the best hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was observed with the chloroform extract. The ethanolic extract at a concentration of 6 mg/mL proved to be the most effective antimycotic, since it inhibited the growth of all tested fungi except Penicillium verrucosum. The obtained results indicate that C. campestris seeds could be attributed to a potential source of natural antioxidants in food and pharmaceutical products.

The degradation of detergents that are dispersed in water and soil partially depends on the metabolic activities of fungi. Among the fungi that have this ability, Deuteromycetes are particularly noted for their biochemical characteristics. Taking this into account, it was of interest to analyze the influence of detergent and its main compounds, ethoxyled oleylcetyl alcohol (AOC) and sodium tripoly-phosphate (TTP), on the metabolism of the fungus Trichothecium roseum. Our results revealed that both detergent and AOC had an inhibitory effect on the bioproduction of free organic acids, while TTP stimulated their production. Also, detergent inhibited the bioproduction of basic amino acids, with the exception of alanine. In addition, detergent applied at 1% concentration inhibited the bioproduction of proteins and the total biomass of the fungus, while AOC and TTP inhibited the production of proteins, but stimulatedl the production of Trichothecium

The antioxidant activity and total phenolic and flavonoid content of ethanolic, acetone and ethyl acetate extracts of Ruscus hypoglossum L. and Ruscus aculeatus L. (aerial parts) from Serbia were investigated in this paper. The best total antioxidant capacity (23.329 μg AA g-1) and the highest DPPH scavenging activity (IC 50 = 182.54 μg mL-1) were found in acetone and ethyl acetate extract of R. aculeatus L. Ethanolic extract of R. hypoglossum L. showed the highest ABTS radical cation scavenging activity (IC 50 = 3.04 μg mL-1), as well as reducing power (IC 50 = 143 μg mL-1). The best inhibitory activity against lipid peroxidation (IC 50 = 651 μg mL-1) and the best ferrous ion chelating ability (IC 50 = 110 μg mL-1) were found in acetone and ethyl acetate extract of R. hypoglossum L. The highest total phenolic (8.569 mg GAE g-1) and flavonoid contents (0.136 mg RU g-1) were found in ethanolic and acetone extract of R. hypoglossum L. and R. aculeatus L, respectively.

The mycochemical screening, antioxidant potential and DNA protecting potential of Penicillium cyclopium and Penicillium brevicompactum were in the focus of this study. The ethanolic extracts of mycelia were used for the evaluation of their antioxidant potential by the following assays: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant capacity, Fe 2+ -chelating activity, Fe 3+ -reducing capacity and DNA protection against hydroxyl radical damage. The mycochemical analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of phenols, terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, carbohydrates and amino acids. The ethanolic extract of P. cyclopium contained higher amounts of phenolic compounds and ferrous ion chelating ability. P. brevicompactum showed higher total antioxidant capacity, DPPH free-radical scavenging and reducing power ability. Both ethanolic extracts of mycelia showed excellent ability to reduce the hydroxyl radical-induced DNA damage. Thus, both Penicillium species can be considered as promising source of natural antioxidants. RezumatStudiul a urmărit analiza compoziției chimice, potențialul antioxidant și de protecție al ADN-ului pentru speciile Penicillium cyclopium și Penicillium brevicompactum. Extractele etanolice micelare au fost utilizate pentru evaluarea potențialului antioxidant prin următoarele teste: 2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidrazil (DPPH), capacitatea antioxidantă totală, activitatea de chelatare a Fe 2+ , capacitatea de reducere a Fe 3+ și protecția ADN împotriva radicalilor liberi hidroxil. Analiza extractelor a evidențiat prezența fenolilor, a terpenoidelor, alcaloizilor, taninurilor, carbohidraților și aminoacizilor. Extractul etanolic de P. cyclopium conține cantități mai mari de compuși fenolici și o capacitate mai mare de captare a radicalilor liberi DPPH și o putere reducătoare mai mare. Ambele extracte etanolice micelare au demonstrat efect protector asupra ADN-ului, fiind surse promițătoare de antioxidanți naturali.