Bioactive Metabolites from the Endophytic Fungus Aspergillus sp. SPH2

In the current study, an ethyl acetate extract from the endophytic fungus sp. SPH2 isolated from the stem parts of the endemic plant was screened for its biocontrol properties against plant pathogens ( , and ), insect pests ( , , ), plant parasites ( ), and ticks ( ). SPH2 gave extracts with strong fungicidal and ixodicidal effects at different fermentation times. The bioguided isolation of these extracts gave compounds - . Mellein ( ) showed strong ixodicidal effects and was also fungicidal. This is the first report on the ixodicidal effects of . Neoaspergillic acid ( ) showed potent antifungal effects. Compound appeared during the exponential phase of the fungal growth while neohydroxyaspergillic acid ( ) appeared during the stationary phase, suggesting that is the biosynthetic precursor of . The mycotoxin ochratoxin A was not detected under the fermentation conditions used in this work. Therefore, SPH2 could be a potential biotechnological tool for the production of ixodicidal extracts rich in mellein.