ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant potential of lectin from the endophytic fungi of Viscum album. Place and duration of study: Department of Biotechnology, Shridevi Institute of Engineering and Technology campus, Tumkur, Karnataka, India between November 2012 and March 2013. Methodology: Isolation, identification of endophytic fungi from Viscum album, mass production, lectin isolation, purification using affinity chromatography. In vitro antioxidant activity of lectin using total antioxidant assay, DPPH, FRAP, Fe3+ reducing assay and H2O2 scavenging activity. Result: Different endophytic fungi were isolated and identified as Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium moniliforme, Trichothecium sp. Isolated lectin was capable of agglutinating A+ve erythrocytes, various in vitro antioxidant assays were carried out. Total antioxidant activity showed that (418μg/mg) of ascorbic acid equivalent in the Viscum album extract, among endophyhtes higher activity observed in Fusarium oxysporum (348.54 μg/mg). DPPH assay showed endophytic lectin significantly reduced DPPH free radicals with the low IC50 value observed in Aspergillus flavus (127.9μg/ml) in compared to Viscum album (92.4μg/ml). Highest FRAP value was observed in the location from Viscum album of (180.12μg/ml) among endophytes Aspergillus flavus showed (133.22μg/ml) of the ascorbic acid equivalent of Fe2+/ mg of listing. In Fe3+ reducing ability showed concentration dependent reduction in Fe3+ to Fe2+, low IC50 value was observed in endophytic lectin Fusarium oxysporum (143.4 μg/ml). These values are slightly higher in relation to Viscum album (120.3μg/ml). In H2O2 scavenging activity there was concentration dependent scavenging activity was observed, IC50 value in Fusarium moniliforme was (171.2 μg/ml) , Viscum album is listing showed (183.4 μg/ml). Conclusion: Lectin isolated from endophytic fungi relieved that it was capable of scavenging the free radicals, antioxidant activity was comparatively higher in endophytes than compared with Viscum album. Endophytic lectin could be a novel source for scavenging the free radicals having pharmaceutical value.