Optimization of culture conditions for production of the anti-tubercular alkaloid hirsutellone A by Trichoderma gelatinosum BCC 7579

AIMS: This work aimed to optimize the culture conditions for production of a novel and potent anti-tubercular alkaloid, hirsutellone A, by the saprophytic soil fungus Trichoderma gelatinosum BCC 7579. METHODS AND RESULTS: The fungus was initially cultured in shake flasks at 25 degrees C in the potato dextrose broth (PDB) supplemented with various carbon and nitrogen sources and mineral salts to select suitable medium for mycelial growth and hirsutellone A production. Cultivation conditions were further optimized by adjusting initial pH and changing temperature levels to maximize the production of hirsutellone A. The optimal condition that increased the production of hirsutellone A from 19.04 mg l(-1), obtained from basal condition, to 610.55 mg l(-1) and reduced the cultivation time from 40 to 6 days was to cultivate in a shaker at 200 rev min(-1) at 25 degrees C in PDB plus 20 g l(-1) soluble starch, 10 g l(-1) peptone and 2.5% (v/v) salt solution with initial pH of 7. Production of hirsutellone A in larger-scale using a 5-l batch fermenter was also completed yielding 958 mg l(-1) of hirsutellone A within 6 days. CONCLUSIONS: The suitable culture conditions for hirsutellone A production by T. gelatinosum BCC 7579 was the cultivation in 5-l fermenter at 25 degrees C in PDB plus 20 g l(-1) soluble starch, 10 g l(-1) peptone and 2.5% (v/v) salt solution with an initial pH of 7. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The production of hirsutellone A in a fermenter to obtain a high yield and reduce an incubation period will become very useful in anti-tubercular drug development process in the future.