Extraction and Identification of Fungal Melanin Pigment of Fungus Aspergillus niger and its Antifungal Effect on Candida albicans | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Medical Microbiology | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 01 April 2026 | ||
| Document Type: New and original researches in the field of Microbiology. | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejmm.2025.431227.1921 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Ayat T. Mahmood* ; Hawazin A. Abid | ||
| Department of Biology College of Science, University of Tikrit, Iraq | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: The production of microbial pigments is an emerging study area driven by the industry's increasing demand for safer, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly goods. Objective: The present study aimed to isolation and identification of Aspergillus nigar from soil and study the inhibitory activity of melanin against Candida albicans. Methodology: The top layer of soil was removed from the home garden soil in Tikrit, the fungus was isolated on Malt extract agar and Potato Dextrose Agar, then melanin was extracted. The antifungal activity of melanin was determined on Candida albicans was isolated and was identified using traditional and molecular methods. Results: The study revealed that out of 25 fungal isolates, only four (M1, M2, M3, and M4) were capable of producing a diffusible brown-black pigment (melanin). The M1 melanin extract demonstrated inhibitory activity against Candida albicans, with an inhibitory diameter of up to 15 mm. The pigment at a concentration of 200 µg/ml exhibited inhibitory effect against Candida albicans. The percentage of red blood cell lysis was 62.5% at a concentration of 1/10 for the 1M compound and 6.8% at a concentration of 1/100, while the remaining concentrations did not show any lysis activity on red blood cells. The lysis result at a concentration of 1/10 for the 2M, 3M, and 4M was (75%, 75%, and 43.75%), respectively. Conclusion: A. nigar contains a high percentage of melanin, making it an important source of this pigment. Melanin is able to inhibit clinical isolates of Candida albicans | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Aspergillus nigar; melanin; Antifungal activity; Candida spp | ||
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