ArticleMicrobial cell factories2025
Natural pigments from the endophyte Aspergillus westerdijkiae and evaluation of their bioactivities.
Article in Microbial cell factories, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Whole-Cell Fungal Biotransformation ofMolecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Correction: Natural pigments from the endophyte Aspergillus westerdijkiae and evaluation of their bioactivities.Microbial cell factories · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe growing consumer preference for natural and sustainable products has heightened interest in biopigments across pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. In this study, we investigate endophytic fungi as a viable and eco-friendly source for the production of bioactive natural pigments. METHODS AND
resultsA promising strain, Aspergillus westerdijkiae 17P, was isolated from Betula pendula and assessed for its pigment-producing potential and associated bioactivities. The biomass extract was fractionated, and the resulting components were evaluated for antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, neuroprotective, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) agonist activities. Among the fractions, 17P2 exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects, notable antioxidant activity (83% DPPH radical scavenging at 1000 mg/mL), and cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and HepG2 cancer cell lines, with IC₅₀ values of 250 mg/mL. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) demonstrated strong binding affinities of 17P2 to acetylcholinesterase (Kd = 1.63 µM) and butyrylcholinesterase (Kd = 0.03 µM), indicating potential anti-Alzheimer’s properties. Additionally, significant interactions with monoamine oxidase A and PPAR-γ suggest possible antidepressant and antidiabetic applications. Four major pigment fractions (17P1–17P4) were purified and structurally characterized using UHPLC-MS and NMR, revealing key metabolites such as aluminium and iron aspergillic acid complexes, penicillic acid, and preussin. Notably, gamma irradiation at 2000 Gy significantly enhanced the red, yellow, and orange pigments yield compared to the non-irradiated control cultures.
conclusionsCollectively, these findings position A. westerdijkiae 17P as a valuable and versatile biotechnological resource for the sustainable production of multifunctional fungal pigments with potential industrial and therapeutic applications.
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