High ophiobolin A production in endophytic fungus Bipolaris sp. associated with Datura metel.

Ophiobolin A, a metabolite of fungi, is known to induce cell death and have anticancer activity. Therefore, obtaining ophiobolin A has become an important aspect in studying activity with medicinal properties that are affected by it. Ophiobolin A-producing filamentous fungi are endophytic or infectious microbes that attack annual and short-cycle plants. Here we isolated the endophyte of Datura metel, which is an annual plant that produces ophiobolin A. Results of this study have led to the identification of an endophytic filamentous fungus Bipolaris sp. with high ophiobolin A production (235 mg/L) in liquid culture after 21 days. Our findings further indicate that ophiobolin A-producing fungi live in short-cycle plants, and a method of finding the fungus is described.