Analysis of the Bioactive Metabolites of the Endangered Mexican LostFungi Campanophyllum – A Report from India

Meghalaya, (in India), in the region of the mega-biodiversity hotspots, is home to a plethoraof wild mushrooms. The present study concerns the exploration of the order Agaricales,which includes rare gilled mushrooms considered endangered under IUCN A4c criteria, dueto the declining habitat. Electron microscopy of the gill sections revealed an abundance ofclamp connections, hyphal cell walls, cystidia, and basidia. This rare species which belongsto the family Cyphellaceae, exhibits morphological and molecular differences from theCyphella spp. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that it formed a clade under the genusCampanophyllum of the order Agaricales, confirmed by both Neighbor Joining (NJ) andBayesian phylogenetic analysis. Being nutritionally potent along with its efficient antioxidantvalue, the fungal extract shows significant rise of two-fold in the antimicrobial activity alongwith the commercial antibiotics. The compound, Phenol, 2, 4-bis (1, 1-Dimethylethyl) (2, 4-DTBP) showed in ample range in the fungal extract along with aliphatic hydrocarbons,terpene, alcohol and volatile organic compounds on further characterization in GCMS. Thepresent study indicates the endangered Campanophyllum proboscideum could be a richsource of natural antioxidants and an effective pharmaceutical agent.

Analysis of the Bioactive Metabolites of the Endangered Mexican LostFungi Campanophyllum – A Report from India

Meghalaya, (in India), in the region of the mega-biodiversity hotspots, is home to a plethoraof wild mushrooms. The present study concerns the exploration of the order Agaricales,which includes rare gilled mushrooms considered endangered under IUCN A4c criteria, dueto the declining habitat. Electron microscopy of the gill sections revealed an abundance ofclamp connections, hyphal cell walls, cystidia, and basidia. This rare species which belongsto the family Cyphellaceae, exhibits morphological and molecular differences from theCyphella spp. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that it formed a clade under the genusCampanophyllum of the order Agaricales, confirmed by both Neighbor Joining (NJ) andBayesian phylogenetic analysis. Being nutritionally potent along with its efficient antioxidantvalue, the fungal extract shows significant rise of two-fold in the antimicrobial activity alongwith the commercial antibiotics. The compound, Phenol, 2, 4-bis (1, 1-Dimethylethyl) (2, 4-DTBP) showed in ample range in the fungal extract along with aliphatic hydrocarbons,terpene, alcohol and volatile organic compounds on further characterization in GCMS. Thepresent study indicates the endangered Campanophyllum proboscideum could be a richsource of natural antioxidants and an effective pharmaceutical agent.

Diversity of Culturable Soil Micro-fungi along Altitudinal Gradients of Eastern Himalayas

Very few studies have addressed the phylogenetic diversity of fungi from Northeast India under the Eastern Himalayan range. In the present study, an attempt has been made to study the phylogenetic diversity of culturable soil fungi along the altitudinal gradients of eastern Himalayas. Soil samples from 24 m above sea level to 2,000 m above sea level altitudes of North-East India were collected to investigate soil micro-fungal community structure and diversity. Molecular characterization of the isolates was done by PCR amplification of 18S rDNA using universal primers. Phylogenetic analysis using BLAST revealed variation in the distribution and richness of different fungal biodiversity over a wide range of altitudes. A total of 107 isolates were characterized belonging to the phyla Ascomycota and Zygomycota, corresponding to seven orders (Eurotiales, Hypocreales, Calosphaeriales, Capnodiales, Pleosporales, Mucorales, and Mortierellales) and Incertae sedis. The characterized isolates were analysed for richness, evenness and diversity indices. Fungal diversity had significant correlation with soil physico-chemical parameters and the altitude. Eurotiales and Hypocreales were most diverse and abundant group of fungi along the entire altitudinal stretch. Species of Penicillium (D = 1.44) and Aspergillus (D = 1.288) were found to have highest diversity index followed by Talaromyces (D = 1.26) and Fusarium (D = 1.26). Fungal distribution showed negative correlation with altitude and soil moisture content. Soil temperature, pH, humidity and ambient temperature showed positive correlation with fungal distribution.

Diversity and Biological Activities of Endophytic Fungi of Emblica officinalis, an Ethnomedicinal Plant of India

In the present study, an attempt to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of fungal endophytes inhabiting Emblica officinalis has been made keeping in view the medicinal importance of the selected host plant in Indian traditional practices. A total of four endophytic fungi belonging to Phylum Ascomycetes were isolated from different parts of the plant which were characterized morphologically and by using rDNA-internal transcribed spacer. The most frequently isolated endophyte was Phomopsis sp. The antioxidant activity by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and reducing power assay, and total phenol were evaluated using ethanolic extract of endophytic fungi. DPPH activities in all the ethanolic extract increased with the increase in concentrations. Endophytes, Phomopsis sp. and Xylaria sp. showed highest antioxidant activity and also had the higher levels of phenolics. Antimicrobial activity of fungal extract were tested against four bacteria namely, Escherichia coli MTCC730, Enteroccocus faecalis MTCC2729, Salmonella enterica ser. paratyphi MTCC735 and Streptococcus pyogenes MTCC1925, and the fungus Candida albicans MTCC183. In general, the fungal extracts inhibited the growth of test organisms except E. coli.

Antimicrobial and Synergistic Effects of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Soil Fungi of High Altitudes of Eastern Himalaya

Fifty three fungi isolated from soils of different microhabitats of eastern Himalayan range (3,400~3,600 msl) were screened for mycosynthesis of silver nanaoparticles (AgNPs) and their efficacy as antimicrobials were assessed in combination with commonly used antibiotics. Three isolates Aspergillus terreus SP5, Paecilomyces lilacinus SF1 and Fusarium sp. MP5 identified based on morphological and 18S rRNA gene sequences were found to synthesize AgNPs. These nanoparticles were characterized by visual observation followed by UV-visible spectrophotometric analysis. The AgNPs synthesized by Aspergillus terreus SP5, Paecilomyces lilacinus SF1 and Fusarium sp. MP5 showed absorbance maxima at 412, 419, and 421 nm respectively in the visible region. Transmission electron microscopy micrograph showed formation of spherical AgNPs of 5~50 nm size. The antimicrobial activity of the mycosynthesized nanoparticles were investigated alone and in combination with commonly used antibiotics for analysis of growth inhibition zone against test organisms, namely, Staphylococcus aureus MTCC96, Streptococcus pyogenes MTCC1925, Salmonella enterica MTCC735 and Enterococcus faecalis MTCC2729. The mycosynthesized nanoparticles showed potent antibacterial activity and interestingly their syngergistic effect with erythromycin, methicillin, chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin was significantly higher as compared to inhibitions by AgNPs alone. The present study indicates that silver nanoparticles synthesized using soil borne indigenous fungus of high altitudes show considerable antimicrobial activity, deserving further investigation for potential applications.

Multi-loci Molecular Characterisation of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Five Medicinal Plants of Meghalaya, India

The phylogenetic relationships of the most dominant and morphologically cryptic endophytic fungal isolates from each of five selected medicinal plants, namely Potentilla fulgens, Osbeckia stellata, Osbeckia chinensis, Camellia caduca, and Schima khasiana of the biodiversity rich state of Meghalaya, were assessed with random amplification of polymorphic DNA and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles. Sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 1, small subunit rRNA and partial beta-tubulin gene fragments was also conducted to determine the phylogenetic relationships of these isolates with fungal sequences available in Genbank, NCBI. The identity of the fungal isolates is suggested based on the molecular phylogenetic data.