ABSTRACT:
Sixty one fungal colonies, belonging to five genera, viz., Penicillium, Fusarium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Trichoderma and ten species, were isolated from soil. Among them, Penicilliun sp were found to be dominant. Metabolites from 50% of the organisms were active against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Penicillium sp VIT-2012, with highest activity, was selected for study of effect of temperature and pH on production of metabolties and biomass of the fungus. The maximum biomass was noticed at 300C and pH 7.0 on Manju Kori Broth and highest anti-MRSA activity was noticed under the same conditions but at a pH of 6.0. Mass production of metabolites was carried using optimum conditions. The crude metabolites extracted were checked for minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) which was found to be 25µg and 12.5 µg against seven and three MRSA isolates respectively. FTIR indicated the peaks for carboxylate anion, C-H, C-C, C-O and carboxylic acid dimer. GC-MS analysis revealed the active principle to be either dibutyl phthalate, 1, 2-benzenedicarboxylic acid or butyl 2-methylpropyl ester or their derivatives. 28S rDNA gene of Penicillium sp VIT-2012 showed 99% similarity with Penicillium radicum.