Isolation of a novel marine <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> strain AFK11 and inhibition of inflammatory mediators.

Marine fungi are the leading producers of bioactive metabolites with medicinal properties against several diseases. However, since marine species survive in diverse climates, they are usually difficult to culture in laboratory setups, making them challenging to study. This study aimed to optimize culture conditions for marine fungi and evaluate the inhibitory action of the marine extract on primary pro-inflammatory cytokines. Culture conditions for marine fungi were optimized using biomass production, hyphal density, and radial extension, considering temperature and humidity. The study isolated a new <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> variant, AFK11 (GenBank accession no. JX022941), showing 96% similarity to reported strains. Ethyl acetate extracts of AFK11 significantly inhibited primary pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6, in a dose-dependent manner. This research highlights the successful laboratory culture and anti-inflammatory potential of the new strain of <i>Aspergillus</i>, AFK11, emphasizing the need for further research for its potential in various other diseases such as cancer.