Browsing by Author "Kahwa, Godfrey"

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    Chemical investigation and cytotoxicity evaluation of compounds from fungi growing on idundi: a traditional fermented green banana
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2015) Kahwa, Godfrey
    Natural products are by-products isolated from living organisms (plants, animals, protozoans and fungi). These products have been exploited in various forms and formulations for human use, for example as curative agent and their discovery lead to the development of various drugs. This study, aimed at isolation, identification and cytotoxicity evaluation of copmpounds from fungi associated with fermented banana (Idundi). The food is normally fed to postpartum mothers with a belief that it has some therapeutic properties. The compounds were isolated and identified by using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, respectively. In this study, fxour fungal isolates namely, Candida pyralidae, Rhodotorulamucilaginosa, TrichodermaaureovirideandRhizopusstoloniferwere investigated. Four compounds were isolated from ethylacetate extracts of Candida pyralidae, namely kojic acid (43), 9,12-linoleic acid (44), mannitol (45), and (9Z,12Z)-1, 2-dihydroxyethyl octadeca 9,12-dienoate (46). Compound 43 and 45 are reported the first time from Candida pyralidae. The EtOAc extract of Rhodotorulamucilaginosa yielded compound 43 and 44. The EtOAc crude extract of Trichodermaaureoviride and Rhizopusstolonifer yielded large amount of compound 43. The Bioassay results from brine shrimp test indicated that compound 43 and 45 exhibited cytotoxicity with LC50 of 5.6 and 13.8 µg/mL respectively, compound 44 and 46 had LC50 of 85.4 and 67.2 µg/mL respectively. Fatty acids and kojic acid were found to be the major compounds that were isolated from the extract of all species. It can be concluded that Idundi has largest proportion of kojic acid. This compound is known to have antibiotic properties which could probably be the reason for Idundi to effect healing characteristicss in postpartum mothers.