Production of kojic acid by endophyte Neofusicoccum parvum isolated from Campomanesia adamantium and its antibacterial and anticancer application

Endophytic fungi are important sources of bioactive metabolites with applications. In this study, the ethyl acetate extract of the endophyte Neofusicoccum parvum (CA78), isolated from the leaves of Campomanesia adamantium, was characterised by NMR spectroscopy, revealing kojic acid as the predominant detectable metabolite. The extract exhibited bacteriostatic activity against Gram-negative bacteria, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 256 μg/mL for Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis. In addition, the extract showed inhibitory activity against murine melanoma B16F10 cells, with an IC50 value of 42.82 µg/mL. These findings highlight the antibacterial and anticancer potential of kojic acid produced by N. parvum and reinforce the importance of endophytic fungi as sources of bioactive metabolites.