Sipeimine-producing endophytic fungus isolated from Fritillaria ussuriensis

Ten strains of endophytic fungi were isolated from the bulbs of the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Fritillaria ussuriensis. The extract from one of them, Fu7, showed a positive reaction with Dragendorff's reagent and the same Rf value in thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis as authentic sipeimine. A further TLC scan and high-performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light-scattering detection (HPLC-ELSD) showed that one ingredient of the extract of strain Fu7 had a similar absorption curve in the range 200-700 nm and the same retention time as authentic sipeimine. Thus, the fungus produces the bioactive ingredient sipeimine, as does its host plant, and could be used for the production of sipeimine by fermentation.