Isolation and screening of lovastatin-producing endophytic fungi from lemongrass (Cymbopogon nardus)

Abstract. Rahmi Z, Yurnaliza Y, Hastuti LDS. 2022. Isolation and screening of lovastatin-producing endophytic fungi from lemongrass (Cymbopogon nardus L.). Biodiversitas 23: 4189-4194. Fungi have long been studied for their cholesterol-lowering compounds, known as statins the derivatives through fermentation in laboratory investigations. Therefore, this study aimed to isolate screen fungal strains capable producing lovastatin. Endophytic were isolated stems leaves nardus) selection ability produce lovastatin was assayed using three approaches, namely negative test against Candida albicans, measurement based on absorbance at a wavelength (?) 230 nm or colorimetric assay, observation thin layer chromatography (TLC). A total 22 fungi, 15 7 lemongrass. The capability confirmed resulting potential strains, Trichoderma sp. CNB 2.5.3, unidentified fungus CND 2.5.4, Nigrospora 2.1.1. Based produced significant zone inhibition C. with greater levels than other isolates. TLC analysis showed that ethanolic extracts contained crude indicated same retention factor (Rf) value standard presence can be investigated progressively optimum production evaluation its activity future.