Pharmacological evaluation and comprehensive chemical profiling of secondary metabolites from the marine-derived Aspergillus flavus DMG48: a multi-target therapeutic potential

This study investigated secondary metabolites from the marine Aspergillus flavus. Chemical profiling revealed 38 compounds via GC-MS, with p-Cresol, 2, 2′-methylenebis[6-tert-butyl] (41.45%), and Tris(2,4-di-tert-butyl phenyl)phosphate (11.69%) predominating. HPLC quantified rosmarinic acid (4237.51 μg/g) and gallic acid (4134.40 μg/g). Bioactive screening revealed the presence of phenolics (80.667 mg GAE/g), flavonoids (50.333 mg QuE/g), tannins (21.033 mg TanE/g), saponins (15.393 mg AE/g) and alkaloids (3.680 mg/g). The antioxidant activity demonstrated IC50 values of 32.88 μg/ml (DPPH) and 58.17 μg/ml (ABTS), with TAC (217.4 μg/mg AAE) and FRAP (111.52 μg/mg AAE). COX-1 (IC50 = 95.56 μg/ml) and COX-2 (IC50 = 175.72 μg/ml) inhibition occurred. The cytotoxicity IC50 values were 288.51 μg/mL (WI-38), 190.65 μg/mL (Caco-2) and 145.91 μg/mL (PC-3). PC3 cells exhibited S-phase arrest (28.10% vs 11.47%) and 76.43% apoptotic cells, resulting in a 98.8% reduction in viability. Bacillus subtilis and E. coli (MIC = 15.62 μg/ml) and Candida tropicalis (MFC = 62.5 μg/ml) were inhibited. A. Flavus metabolites showed therapeutic potential.