Assessment of the Chemical Diversity and Functional Properties of Secondary Metabolites from the Marine Fungus .

Natural compounds derived from microorganisms, especially those with antioxidant and anticancer properties, are gaining attention for their potential applications in biomedical, cosmetic, and food industries. Marine fungi, such as , are particularly promising due to their ability to produce bioactive metabolites through the degradation of marine algal polysaccharides. This study investigates the metabolic diversity of grown on different carbon sources: glucose, spp., and . Crude extracts of fungal biomass were analyzed for total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity (TAC), toxicity, and phenolic compound identification using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The analysis revealed the presence of anthraquinone compounds, including emodin (0.36 ± 0.08 mg/g DW biomass) and citrereosein in glucose medium and citrereosein and endocrocin in medium. No such compounds were detected in spp. medium. The glucose-grown extract exhibited the highest TPC (3.09 ± 0.04 mg GAE/g DW) and TAC (39.70 ± 1.0 µmol TEq/g biomass). Additionally, no detrimental effects were observed on a neuronal cell line. These findings highlight the influence of carbon sources on the production of bioactive metabolites and their functional properties, providing valuable insights into the biotechnological potential of .