Jinu Mathew Valayil and Jayabaskaran C
Cholestanol and its derivatives are known to possess diverse biological activities. An endophytic fungus, Lasiodiplodia theobromae associated with Saraca asoca, was found to produce a novel steroidal glycoside, cholestanol glucoside (CG) which exhibited significant antioxidant and anticancer potentialities. Low cost and sustained production of bioactive compound is a major criterion determining its development as a drug. In the present study, we have attempted to optimize the media components to ensure optimum production of CG by L. theobromae. One factor at a time (OFAT) approach along with response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to investigate the effects of various medium components on the production of CG in submerged cultures of L. theobromae. Carbon and nitrogen sources were optimized by OFAT approach. RSM was further used to determine the optimum values of trace elements for maximum CG production. The fit of the quadratic model was found to be significant. A significant increase in CG production (50 ± 2.7 mg/L) was achieved by optimizing the media components. Our findings support a cost-effective production of CG.
