Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

The fungal extraction of taxol, an anticancer drug, was studied by screening fifteen different coelomycetous cultures. Of these fungi, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Pestalotiopsis menezesiana and Pestalotiopsis uvicola showed positive results for the production of taxol. The taxol production by them was confirmed by TLC, HPLC, UV and Mass spectroscopic analyses and compared with authentic taxol. The fungal taxol extracted was subjected to its efficacy test on different cancer cell lines by in vitro solid tumor selective assay. All the three fungal extracts showed cytotoxic activity. P. menezesiana produced 274.9 µg/L of taxol in laboratory condition which gives scope for larger production by means of industrial fermentation. The discovery of such microbiological production of drug can revolutionize the search for effective pharmaceutical agents to control tumour.

Keywords: Botryodiplodia theobromae, Pestalotiopsis menezesiana, P. uvicola, fungal taxol, cytotoxicity test, cancer cell lines.