Browsing by Author "Santhirasegaram, S."

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Antibacterial Polyketide from Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Pyrenula bahiana on Mangrove Ecosystems in Puttalam Lagoon, Sri Lanka
(Asian Journal of Chemistry, 2022) Paranagama, P.A.; Santhirasegaram, S.; Wickramarachchi, S.R.; Attanayake, R.N.; Weerakoon, G.; Maduranga, K.
Lasiodiplodia theobromae is one of the frequently isolated fast growing endolichenic fungus. This fungus was isolated from the lichen host, Pyrenula bahiana collected from the mangrove ecosystems in Puttlam lagoon and its identification was confirmed based on rDNA-ITS sequence homology. Secondary metabolites of L. theobromae were extracted into ethyl acetate and subjected to antibacterial assay against Escherichia coli (ATCC25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25923) and Bacillus subtilis (ATCC6051). Crude extract at a concentration of 6.8 μg/mL showed good antibacterial activity against the bacterial strain S. aureus compared with the activity of the standard azithromycin at a concentration of 5.0 μg/mL. Active crude extract was partitioned to obtain methanol, hexane and chloroform fractions. Chloroform fraction showed the highest activity to S. aureus out of three fractions. This fraction was subjected to bioassay-guided separation on silica gel column chromatography to isolate bioactive pure compounds. The bioactive pure compound was identified as (3R)-de-O-methyllasiodiplodin using LC-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.
Antibacterial polyketide from Lasiodiplodia theobromae, inhabiting the lichen host, Pyrenula bahiana on mangrove ecosystems in Puttalam lagoon, Sri Lanka
(Asian Journal of Chemistry, 2022) Paranagama, P. A.; Santhirasegaram, S.; Fathima, M. M. A.; Wickramarachchi, S. R.; Attanayake, R. N.; Weerakoon, G.; Maduranga, K.
Lasiodiplodia theobromae is one of the frequently isolated fast growing endolichenic fungus. This fungus was isolated from the lichen host, Pyrenula bahiana collected from the mangrove ecosystems in Puttlam lagoon and identity was confirmed based on rDNA-ITS sequence homology. Secondary metabolites of L. theobromae were extracted into ethyl acetate and subjected to antibacterial assay against Escherichia coli (ATCC25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25923) and Bacillus subtilis (ATCC6051). Crude extract at a concentration of 6.8 μg/ml showed good anti-bacterial activity against the bacterial strain S. aureus compared with the activity of the standard Azithromycin at a concentration of 5.0 μg/ml. Active crude extract was partitioned to obtain methanol,
Cognitive Barriers in Learning English as a Second Language at Tertiary Level: A Survey of English as a Second Language Class at the University of Jaffna
(Department of Linguistics, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Santhirasegaram, S.
This paper aims to probe the principal difficulties and barriers of the second language learners in the ESL classroom at tertiary level. This study mainly focuses on the barriers of learning English as a second language at the University of Jaffna and to provide some effective teaching approaches to improve English knowledge of undergraduates. The researcher has conducted this survey to explore the cognitive barriers in the skill of writing in English. This study has been carried out in relation to the second year students in the Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna. The objective of this study is to examine the cognitive barriers in the ESL classroom. The researcher tries to investigate what are the causes for the difficulties and the link between the barriers and the language learners‟ family factors, cultural factors and psychological traits. This study also provides valuable suggestions to improve the learners‟ language acquisition level and the development of writing skill, how to motivate them via effective teaching approaches and strategies and help them to overcome their learning barriers. The data has been analysed through qualitative and quantitative research methods. This study is based on writing materials that were collected from the undergraduates to gather information and discussions regarding this study. This study helps to diagnose the learners‟ cognitive barriers in writing, to bring an effective learning outcome and to improve the learners‟ cognitive level in the ESL classroom.
Identification of Novel Bioactive Compounds, Neurosporalol 1 and 2 from an Endolichenic Fungus, Neurospora ugadawe Inhabited in the Lichen Host, Graphis tsunodae Zahlbr. from Mangrove Ecosystem in Puttalam Lagoon, Sri Lanka
(ASSIIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMIISSTRY, 2021) Maduranga, H.; Weerasinghe, W.; Attanayake, R.; Santhirasegaram, S.; Shevkar, C.; Kate, A.; Weerakoon, G.; Samanthi, K.; Kalia, K.; Paranagama, P. A.
Endolichenic fungi (ELF) have been recognized as a promising source of bioactive secondary metabolites. Sri Lanka, a biodiversity hotspot, harbours a remarkable diversity in mangrove ecosystems. In the present study, endolichenic fungi obtained from mangrove lichens of Puttalam lagoon were studied for their secondary metabolites. An endolichenic fungus, Neurospora ugadawe, isolated from the lichen host Graphis tsunodae Zahlbr. was identified up to the species level. Secondary metabolites of N. ugadawe were extracted into ethyl acetate and crude extract showed promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Bioassay guided separation on silica gel column chromatography and preparative TLC were performed to isolate the bioactive pure compounds. Two novel bioactive pure compounds were identified as Neurosporalol 1 and Neurosporalol 2. Neurosporalol 1 showed the highest antioxidant activity compared with the positive control BHT. Further, this compound showed very low anti-inflammatory activity compared to that of the positive control aspirin. Neurosporalol 2 showed comparable antioxidant and moderate anti-inflammatory activities.
Identification of Novel Bioactive Compounds, Neurosporalol 1 and 2 from anEndolichenic Fungus, Neurospora ugadawe Inhabited in the Lichen Host,Graphis tsunodae Zahlbr. from Mangrove Ecosystem in Puttalam Lagoon, Sri Lanka
(Asian Journal of Chemistry, 2021) Maduranga, H.; Weerasinghe, W.; Attanayake, R.; Santhirasegaram, S.; Shevkar, C.; Kate, A.S.; Weerakoon, G.; Samanthi, K.; Kalia, K.; Paranagama, P. A.
Endolichenic fungi (ELF) have been recognized as a promising source of bioactive secondary metabolites. Sri Lanka, a biodiversity hotspot, harbours a remarkable diversity in mangrove ecosystems. In the present study, endolichenic fungi obtained from mangrove lichens of Puttalam lagoon were studied for their secondary metabolites. An endolichenic fungus, Neurospora ugadawe, isolated from the lichen host Graphis tsunodae Zahlbr. was identified up to the species level. Secondary metabolites of N. ugadawe were extracted into ethyl acetate and crude extract showed promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Bioassay guided separation on silica gel column chromatography and preparative TLC were performed to isolate the bioactive pure compounds. Two novel bioactive pure compounds were identified as Neurosporalol 1 and Neurosporalol 2. Neurosporalol 1 showed the highest antioxidant activity compared with the positive control BHT. Further, this compound showed very low anti-inflammatory activity compared to that of the positive control aspirin. Neurosporalol 2 showed comparable antioxidant and moderate anti-inflammatory activities.
Molecular phylogeny and bioprospecting of Endolichenic Fungi (ELF) inhabiting in the lichens collected from a mangrove ecosystem in Sri Lanka
(PLoS ONE 13(8): e0200711. https://doi.org/ 10.1371/journal.pone.0200711, 2018) Maduranga, K.; Attanayake, R.N.; Santhirasegaram, S.; Weerakoon, G.; Paranagama, P.A.
Endolichenic fungi (ELF) are unexplored group of organisms as a source for the production of bioactive secondary metabolites with radical scavenging activity, antilipase and amylase inhibitory activities. Endolichenic fungi in lichens collected from mangrove or mangrove associated plants are least known for their fungal diversity and potential to produce bioactive compounds. A total of 171 ELF strains were isolated from the lichens collected from mangrove and mangrove associated plants in Puttalam lagoon. Out of this collection, 70 isolates were identified using rDNA-ITS region sequence homology to the GenBank accessions and a phylogenetic analysis was performed. Commonly isolated genera of ELF from lichens were Aspergillus, Byssochlamys, Talaromyces, Diaporthe, Phomopsis, Endomelanconiopsis, Schizophyllum, Cerrena, Trichoderma, Xylaria, Hypoxylon, Daldinia, Preussia, Sordaria, Neurospora, and Lasiodiplodia. In the present study, the effectiveness of ethyl acetate extracts of the ELF isolates were investigated against antioxidant activity, antilipase activity and α-amylase inhibition activity in in-vitro conditions. The results revealed that the extracts of Daldinia eschscholtzii, Diaporthe musigena and Sordaria sp. had the highest radical scavenging activity with smaller IC50 values (25 μg/mL to 31 μg/mL) compared to the IC50 values of BHT (76.50±1.47 μg/mL). Antilipase assay revealed that 13 extracts from ELF showed promising antiobesity activity ranged between 25% to 40%. Amylase inhibitory assay indicated that the test extracts do not contain antidiabetic secondary metabolites.
A Novel Cytotoxic Compound From the Endolichenic Fungus, Xylaria psidii Inhabiting the Lichen, Amandinea medusulina
(Natural Product Communications, 2020) Santhirasegaram, S.; Wickramarachchi, S. R.; Attanayake, R. N.; Weerakoon, G.; Samarakoon, S.; Wijeratne, K.; Paranagama, P. A.
The lichen host, Amandinea medusulina, collected from mangrove habitats in Sri Lanka, and its associated endolichenic fungi were isolated and identified by rDNA-ITS sequence analysis and morphological features. One of the fungal strains frequently isolated from the lichen thalli was identified as Xylaria psidii. This study aimed at the isolation and identification of the cytotoxic compounds present in this fungus. Secondary metabolites of X. psidii were first extracted into ethyl acetate and subsequently subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation to isolate the bioactive compounds. Sulforhodamine B assay against a lung cancer (NCI-H292) cell line was used to determine the differential cytotoxic activity. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of an active compound, SS/02/29/08, showing moderate cytotoxicity (IC50 = 27.2 μg/mL). Its structure was elucidated by IR, 1D- and 2D-NMR, and 13C-NMR spectrophotometry and MS, in combination with HRMS, 13C NMR, HSQC, HMBC, and DQF-COSY. The structure of SS/02/29/08 was determined as (Z)-3-{(3-acetyl- 2-hydroxyphenyl) diazenyl}-2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and identified as a new compound. This novel compound has promising differential cytotoxic activity against human lung cancer cell line (NCI-H292).
A Novel Cytotoxic Compound From the Endolichenic Fungus, Xylaria psidii Inhabiting the Lichen, Amandinea medusulina
(Natural Product Communication, 2020) Santhirasegaram, S.; Wickramarachchi, P.A.S.R.; Attanayake, R.N.; Weerakoon, G.; Samarakoon, S.; Wijeratne, K.; Paranagama, P.A.
The lichen host, Amandinea medusulina, collected from mangrove habitats in Sri Lanka, and its associated endolichenic fungi were isolated and identified by rDNA-ITS sequence analysis and morphological features. One of the fungal strains frequently isolated from the lichen thalli was identified as Xylaria psidii. This study aimed at the isolation and identification of the cytotoxic compounds present in this fungus. Secondary metabolites of X. psidii were first extracted into ethyl acetate and subsequently subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation to isolate the bioactive compounds. Sulforhodamine B assay against a lung cancer (NCI-H292) cell line was used to determine the differential cytotoxic activity. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of an active compound, SS/02/29/08, showing moderate cytotoxicity (IC50 = 27.2 µg/mL). Its structure was elucidated by IR, 1D- and 2D-NMR, and 13C-NMR spectrophotometry and MS, in combination with HRMS, 13C NMR, HSQC, HMBC, and DQF-COSY. The structure of SS/02/29/08 was determined as (Z)-3-{(3-acetyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)diazenyl}-2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and identified as a new compound. This novel compound has promising differential cytotoxic activity against human lung cancer cell line (NCI-H292).