Figure 5.

Schematic representation of various biological activities of Curvularia spp. (A) Anti-oxidant activity: Fungus secreted many anti-oxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, peroxidase, etc. which counteracts to reactive oxygen species (ROS), generated by immune system of host plant. (B) Anti-cancer activity: Toxin secreted by fungus induced program cell death/apoptosis of cancerous cell by various processes like changing the membrane potential of mitochondria, DNA fragmentation, etc. (C) Insecticidal activity: Curvularia toxins suppress the function of insect immunocytes and inhibits immune system of insects by producing virulence factors like Melanin, Hsp25, etc. Finally, it increases level of enzymes like lipase, chitinase, protease which ultimately cause death of insect cells. (D) Anti-microbial activity: Curvularia spp. Secrets some of anti-microbial compounds, that shows antagonism against microbes by damage and permeabilization of membrane, inhibition of microbial proteins and by altering the gene expression of microbes.