LC/MS of the soft coral Sarcophyton ehrenbergi and its isolated associated endophytic fungi: Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus flavus

The soft coral Sarcophyton ehrenbergi (Alcyoniidae) contains biologically active secondary metabolites (prostaglandins, diterpenes, sesquiterpenes, ceramides and cerebrosides) and showed cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities. Sarcophyton ehrenbergi was collected from the Red Sea, Hurghada, East of Egypt. This work aims to identify its endophytes. Two endophytic fungi were isolated from it for the first time and identified as Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus flavus. Fungal identification was carried out by Phylogenetic analysis and further confirmed by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing and molecular data analysis. LC/MS analysis was carried out comparatively for the coral and its 2 isolated fungi. Results revealed twenty, nineteen and sixteen compounds identified from Sarcophyton ehrenbergi, Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus flavus, respectively. Seven compounds identified as Asperorydine B, 4-methyl-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one, Speradine A, Maltoryzine, Aflatoxine B1, Asperorydine G and Asperorydine M were common in both fungal species. No common compounds were detected between the soft coral and its 2 isolated fungi. Further investigations are required to reveal the potential biological activities of the isolated endophytic fungi and /or their identified compounds.