Lecanicillium aphanocladii: snake venom phospholipases A2 and proteases as tools to prospect enzymatic inhibitors

Natural enzyme inhibitors have been widely described in literature because of its pharmacological and cosmetic applications. Fungi found in caves represent a promising source of bioactive substances that are still little explored scientifically. Thus, the present work evaluated the presence of enzymatic modulators in a filtrate obtained from the cultivation of the cave fungus Lecanicillium aphanocladii (Family: Cordycipitaceae). Snake venoms from Bothrops alternatus and Bothrops atrox were used as an enzymatic source for the induction of the phospholipase, proteolytic, thrombolytic, cytotoxic and coagulant activities. Compounds present in the fungal filtrate inhibited 50, 23.8, 26.6, 50.9 and 52.5% of the proteolytic, phospholipase, haemolytic, thrombolytic and coagulant activities respectively. The filtrate was not cytotoxic on erythrocytes, but induced partial dissolution of thrombi. Fungal enzyme inhibitors that have low or no toxicity and can be obtained on a large scale and at low cost are relevant in the medical-scientific context. Therefore, the inhibition of phospholipases A(2) and proteases observed in the present work highlights the potential of fungal metabolites for the development of drugs that can be used in the treatment of haemostasis and inflammation-related disorders.