Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the chlorine pigment sclerotiorin from Penicillium mallochii and its chemotaxonomic significance

Penicillium mallochii was isolated as an endophyte from Himatanthus sp. and inoculated in liquid potato-dextrose culture medium, with adjusted to pH 3.6, and incubated for 10 days at 24 °C. Successive column chromatography of the hexane extract afforded the chlorine pigment sclerotiorin. Its structure was determined by NMR and by comparison with the literature. Sclerotiorin showed moderate antioxidant activity and moderate antibacterial against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Micrococcus luteus. The isolation of sclerotiorin from P. mallochii support the taxonomic classification within the Penicillium genus, demonstrating a closer evolutionary relationship among the Penicillium species. Therefore, we suggest that sclerotiorin and the sclerotiorin group of metabolites may be used as chemotaxonomic markers for proper identification of Penicillium species. •The chlorine pigment sclerotiorin was isolated from Penicillium mallochii.•Sclerotiorin showed moderate antioxidant and antibacterial activities.•The chemotaxonomic significance of sclerotiorin is discussed.•Sclerotiorin and related compounds are chemotaxonomic markers for Penicillium species.