Isolation and Characterization of Melanin Pigments from Endophytic Aspergillus niger FF152S and Cladosporium sp. HT207

Data on endophytic fungi Aspergillus niger FF152S and Cladosporium sp. HT207 producing brown-black pigment are presented. The pigment was extracted from fungal biomass, purified, characterized, and identified. Physico-chemical characteristics showed solubility in alkali, discoloration in oxidizing agents, and insolubility in organic solvents and water. The melanin structure of the pigments isolated from both strains was confirmed by spectrophotometric analysis in the UV and IR spectra. Isolated melanins exhibited antioxidant properties by the three tests used, and the IC50 values of antioxidant activity of Cladosporium sp. HT207 melanin were higher than A. niger FF152S melanin. The anti-inflammatory activity of melanins was suggested by inhibition of albumin denaturation in vitro at 91.2% and 84.4% The cytotoxic activity of melanins was evaluated by MTT against the cell lines HEp-2, HeLa, HBL-100, CCRF-CEM with the highest value of suppression of growth (50.3%) of breast adenocarcinoma cells HBL-100 melanin from Cladosporium sp. HT207.