Discovery of a cardiomyocyte-protective bioactive compound from marine fungi in Nha Trang Bay
Nha Trang Bay, covering an area of approximately 507 km² with 19 islands of various sizes, is one of Vietnam’s marine areas with high biodiversity, characterised by the presence of typical ecosystems. These conditions are favourable for the rich development of marine microorganisms, including marine fungi, which are increasingly attracting research interest oriented towards the exploitation of their biological potential for practical applications.
MSc Ngo Thi Duy Ngoc and a research team from the Institute of Oceanography under Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology carried out the project “Chemical study and cell-protective activity of compounds obtained from fungi isolated from seaweeds in Nha Trang Bay” (code: VAST04.07/22-23). The project aimed to identify fungal strains capable of producing bioactive compounds with protective effects on cardiomyocytes and neuronal cells, thereby providing a basis for the discovery of new natural drug candidates with potential applications in the treatment of cardiovascular and neurological diseases. The project was assessed as Excellent upon acceptance.
The research team isolated 47 fungal strains from eight seaweed samples collected in Nha Trang Bay. Screening results showed that 38 strains exhibited clear antioxidant activity, as determined by their ability to scavenge DPPH and ABTS free radicals. Notably, extracts from Penicillium chermesinum 2104NT-1.3, Aspergillus sp. 2104NT-3.3 and Aspergillus sp. 2104NT-7.7 demonstrated protective effects on H9c2 cardiomyocytes against rotenone-induced toxicity. In particular, Penicillium chermesinum 2104NT-1.3, isolated from the brown alga Hormorphysa cuneiformis, showed the strongest cardioprotective activity on H9c2 cells and was therefore selected for further in-depth study. By combining chromatographic separation techniques with modern spectroscopic analyses, the team isolated and elucidated the chemical structures of four natural compounds from the fermentation extract of P. chermesinum 2104NT-1.3. These included 3β,15β-dihydroxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-5,8(14),22-trien-7-one, the glycerol ester of 9,12-octadienoic acid, hexadeca-5-enoic acid, and the glycerol ester of hexadeca-5-enoic acid. Notably, the compound 3β,15β-dihydroxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-5,8(14),22-trien-7-one was identified for the first time as having the ability to protect H9c2 cardiomyocytes from hypoxia-induced injury simulated by CoCl₂ treatment. At the same time, this compound also showed a proliferative effect by promoting cell cycle progression from the G1 phase to the S phase (Figure 1). These findings open up prospects for the application of secondary metabolites from marine fungi in research and development of supportive therapies for cardiovascular diseases, particularly injuries related to ischaemia and oxidative stress.
Figure 1: Research scheme for obtaining the compound 3β,15β-dihydroxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-5,8(14),22-trien-7-one with cardioprotective activity on H9c2 cells from the fungal strain Penicillium chermesinum 2104NT-1.3
The research results were published in two international journals indexed in the SCIE database and one domestic journal listed in the VAST2 category, and also contributed to the training of one Master’s graduate. Part of the results was presented in the monograph “Marine fungi in Central Vietnam: Diversity and bioactive compounds”, published by the Natural Science and Technology Publishing House – Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, in 2025 (Figure 2). In addition, the 47 marine fungal strains isolated during the study have been preserved in the Marine Microorganism Collection of the Institute of Oceanography, providing a valuable biological data resource for further research on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of marine microbial resources with potential for bioactive compound production.
Figure 2: The monograph “Marine fungi in Central Vietnam: Diversity and bioactive compounds”
Translated by Phuong Huyen
Link to Vietnamese version
