Optimization Production of Antifungal Substance from a Sponge-associated Trichoderma harzianum cultivated in the Tofu Dregs and Rice Bran

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the production of the crude extract Trichoderma harzianum and its antifungal activity and toxicity. T. harzianum was cultured in tofu dregs and rice bran media both in saline and non-saline media. The fungi were cultured for 15 days at 24-25 C. The media and the mycelia were extracted with methanol. All the extracts were tested against Candida albicans, Malassezia furfur and the Trichophyton sp. The extract was also tested to the human cells for the toxicity assessment. T. harzianum cultured in rice bran produced the extract significantly higher than those in the tofu dregs either in saline or non-saline media. However, the activity of the extract of T. harzianum cultured in the tofu dregs has higher activity than the extract of those cultured in rice bran. However, the use of seawater gave significant effect to the antifungal compounds production of the fungus cultured in rice bran media. The thin layer chromatography test showed that the fermentation process converts the compounds from media into new derivatives that are active against the pathogenic fungi. The extract of T. harzianum cultured in tofu dregs (saline and nonsaline) and saline rice bran did not become toxic to the human cells. In conclusion, the antifungal activity of the T. harzianum extract was influenced by media type. Tofu dregs is a promising media for the large-scale production of non-toxic antifungal compounds.