Toxicity of Bikaverin to Some Pathogens and Optimal Production Conditions

Abstract

Bikaverin is a reddish pigment produced by a variety of fungal species, the majority of which belong to the Fusarium genus. This pigment has antibiotic activities against protozoa, bacteria, and fungus. This study looked at the toxicity of Bikaverin to some microbes, production, and characterization of the pigment from the fungus Fusarium oxysporum. The yield of total bikaverin in F. oxysporum shake flask culture was improved by optimizing cultivation variables such as complex medium, carbon supply, nitrogen source, temperature, medium pH, and incubation period. The maximum production of complete bikaverin was found after 10 days at 28°C in Potato dextrose broth [PDB] supplemented with 2% glucose, 2% corn step liquor, and a pH of 5.5. The isolates of more sensitive bacteria to bikaverin were Staphylococcus aureus and S. typhi, with inhibition zones 24 and 23 mm respectively, at a concentration of 75 ?g/mL. The isolates more sensitive fungi to bikaverin were E.faecalis,  E. coli, C. albicans, and P. aeruginosa, with inhibition zones 18, 22, 20 and 13 mm, respectively, at concentrations of 75 ?g/mL. The study concluded that the toxic antimicrobial activity of bikaverin was against fungi and bacteria