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Bionectria Ochroleuca

Also known as: Bionectria ochroleuca

Overview

Bionectria ochroleuca is an endophytic fungal species, meaning it lives within plants without causing disease, often isolated from environments like mangroves. It is recognized for its ability to produce a diverse array of bioactive secondary metabolites, including polyketide glycosides and peptides. Research into B. ochroleuca is currently in its nascent stages, primarily focusing on the isolation and chemical characterization of these compounds, along with preliminary in vitro bioactivity assessments. Key areas of investigation include its potential antimicrobial properties, particularly against *Candida albicans* biofilm formation, as well as nematicidal activity against plant-parasitic nematodes. While some studies suggest potential antitumor properties, these are largely unexplored or inconclusive. There are no reported clinical trials or human supplementation studies, and the evidence base is limited to in vitro findings, meaning its efficacy and safety in humans are entirely unproven.

Benefits

Research on *Bionectria ochroleuca* has identified several potential benefits, primarily in in vitro settings: - **Antimicrobial:** Polyketide glycosides isolated from *B. ochroleuca* have demonstrated the ability to inhibit the formation of *Candida albicans* biofilms in laboratory conditions. This suggests a potential role in antifungal applications, though this has not been tested in living organisms. The strength of this evidence is limited to chemical characterization and in vitro assays. - **Nematicidal:** Secondary metabolites produced by *B. ochroleuca* have shown nematicidal activity against plant-parasitic nematodes in vitro. This indicates a potential for agricultural biocontrol, offering an environmentally friendly alternative for pest management. However, these findings are preliminary and require further investigation in agricultural settings. - **Antitumor Potential:** While exopolysaccharides (EPS) from *B. ochroleuca* have been found to be non-cytotoxic to human liver cells in vitro, direct antitumor activity remains largely unconfirmed or inconclusive. No specific antitumor mechanisms or significant findings have been reported. All observed benefits are based on early-stage, in vitro research, and no human or animal clinical data exist to quantify their clinical significance or efficacy.

How it works

The proposed mechanisms of action for *Bionectria ochroleuca*'s observed effects are primarily linked to its secondary metabolites. The antifungal activity, specifically against *Candida albicans* biofilms, is attributed to polyketide glycosides. These compounds are thought to interfere with fungal biofilm formation, potentially by disrupting cellular adhesion processes or the synthesis of the extracellular matrix that forms the biofilm structure. The exact molecular targets, however, are not yet fully elucidated. For its nematicidal effects, it is believed that certain fungal secondary metabolites act as toxins to nematodes, leading to their demise, but the specific molecular pathways involved remain undefined. While exopolysaccharide (EPS) production correlates with fungal growth and might influence host interactions, its precise biological role and mechanism are still unclear. Crucially, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (pharmacokinetics) of *B. ochroleuca* metabolites in humans are entirely unknown due to a lack of relevant studies.

Side effects

Currently, there are no established clinical safety data for *Bionectria ochroleuca* in humans or animals. Research is limited to in vitro studies, which provide only preliminary insights into potential toxicity. One study indicated that exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by *B. ochroleuca* were non-toxic to human liver cells (HL-7702) at concentrations ranging from 0.025 to 1.6 mg/mL in laboratory settings. However, this finding does not translate to overall safety for human consumption or systemic use, as it only assesses a specific compound and cell type under controlled conditions. There are no reported adverse effects, drug interactions, or contraindications associated with *B. ochroleuca* because it has not been studied in living organisms or humans. Therefore, its safety profile for any form of human or animal use remains entirely uncharacterized, and caution is advised due to the lack of comprehensive toxicological and clinical data.

Dosage

There are no established dosing guidelines for *Bionectria ochroleuca* for human or animal use due to the complete absence of clinical studies. All research to date has been conducted in vitro, focusing on the isolation and characterization of its metabolites or optimizing fungal culture conditions for metabolite production. For instance, specific laboratory conditions have been optimized for exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, such as using a medium containing 55.7 g/L glucose and 6.04 g/L yeast extract. However, these parameters relate to fungal cultivation, not to human or animal administration. There is no information available regarding effective dosages, timing of administration, different dosages for various purposes, optimal forms for absorption, or any required cofactors. Furthermore, upper limits, safety thresholds, or potential toxicity at higher doses are entirely unknown. Any use of *B. ochroleuca* as a supplement or therapeutic agent would be speculative and unsupported by scientific evidence.

FAQs

Is Bionectria ochroleuca used as a dietary supplement?

No, there is no evidence supporting the use of *Bionectria ochroleuca* as a dietary supplement. Research is limited to isolating fungal metabolites and conducting in vitro bioactivity studies, with no human trials.

Is it safe for human consumption?

The safety of *Bionectria ochroleuca* for human consumption has not been established. While some in vitro data suggest low cytotoxicity of certain compounds, human safety is entirely unknown and unproven.

What benefits can be expected from Bionectria ochroleuca?

Potential antifungal and nematicidal activities have been demonstrated in vitro, but these are preliminary findings. No clinical benefits for humans or animals have been proven or established.

Research Sources

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4208675/ – This study identified seven new polyketide glycosides from *Bionectria ochroleuca* and demonstrated their inhibitory effects on *Candida albicans* biofilm formation in vitro. The research provides detailed chemical characterization of these compounds and suggests their potential as antifungal agents, though it lacks in vivo or clinical data.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3397455/ – This research focused on the isolation and characterization of new peptides, specifically pullularins E and F, along with other known metabolites from *Bionectria ochroleuca*. While it provides good chemical analysis, the study did not report any bioactivity assays for these newly identified peptides.
https://www.excli.de/vol15/Li_11032016_proof.pdf – This paper investigated the optimization of exopolysaccharide (EPS) production by *Bionectria ochroleuca* through submerged fermentation and assessed its cytotoxicity. It found that EPS was not cytotoxic to human liver cells at tested concentrations, providing a preliminary indication of safety for this specific compound, but not for the whole fungus or in vivo.
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2024PlScT..11.5863S/abstract – This study demonstrated the nematicidal potential of metabolites from *Bionectria ochroleuca* through in vitro assays against nematodes. It provides early-stage evidence for the fungus's bioactivity in pest control, but further research is needed to confirm these effects in animal or field studies.