Effect Of Azacytidine on Resveratrol Production by Arcopilus aureus

Abstract

Resveratrol is a major constituent of red wine and exhibits multifarious properties. This polyphenolic flavonoid was first extracted from plant sources but the extensive process and purification were very expensive. Due to its nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and therapeutic properties there is a huge global demand of resveratrol. A cost-effective alternative to produce resveratrol involves using endophytic fungi. Endophytic fungi show exciting property of producing host secondary metabolites owing to horizontal gene transfer. They live in symbiotic relationship with the host. Both benefits from each other in the terms that host provide the fungus a shelter to live while the endophytic fungi help the host to fight against the biotic and abiotic stresses. Endophytic fungi strengthen the defense mechanism of the host by secreting secondary metabolites. These secondary metabolites are not only consumable by humans in their diet but also can be directly or indirectly used in the medicinal preparations. Many resveratrol producing endophytic fungi were studied. For enhancing the resveratrol amount, certain strategies like UV radiation, pathogen attack, and metal salt addition were employed but the generation of instability of genomic content directed the study towards epigenetic modifications. The current study directs to certain strategies that could help to increase the amount of resveratrol produced by the endophytic fungi. Out of hundreds of studied endophytic fungi, Arcopilus aureus, proved to be the most promising endophytic fungi for the commercial production of resveratrol till date. So, this isolated endophytic fungus from Vitis vinifera was cultured in the laboratory. Addition of epigenetic modifier – AZA was done to observe the change in the amount of resveratrol produced. The different concentrations of this modifier were then subjected to TLC for quantification, out of which the 10 μM concentration exhibited the maximum production of resveratrol and had the highest antioxidant property, maximum TPC and TFC content. This directed the study that the Arcopilus aureus when cultured after the addition of AZA at 10 μM, it will provide the maximum amount of resveratrol. All the studies and experiments advocate the theory that epigenetic chemical modifiers can be used to enhance the production of secondary metabolites in the endophytic fungi