The influence of culture conditions on the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites by Penicillium verrucosum Dierck.

A Brazilian strain of Penicillium verrucosum was cultivated under different conditions in a two-step process, in order to verify the influence of nutrients, and of time periods of pre-fermentative and fermentative steps on the biosynthesis of metabolites. Extracellular and intracellular extracts were obtained from each culture in the four different production media used. Chemical profiles of the extracts were obtained by HPLC. Extract trypanocidal activities against trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi were evaluated. The time period of incubation in the pre-fermentative and fermentative media, as well as the different nutrients tested, qualitatively and quantitatively modified the production of secondary metabolites by P. verrucosum, and the extract trypanocidal activities.