Antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties of endophytic fungi isolated from Thysanolaena maxima Roxb., Dracaena spicata Roxb. and Aglaonema hookerianum Schott.

BACKGROUND: Endophytic fungi have recently been recognized as an impressive source of natural biomolecules. The primary objective of the research was to isolate fungal endophytes from Thysanolaena maxima Roxb., Dracaena spicata Roxb. and Aglaonema hookerianum Schott. of Bangladesh and assess their pharmacological potentialities focusing on antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties. METHODS: The fungal isolates were identified up to the genus level by analyzing their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. Ethyl acetate extracts of all the fungal isolates were screened for different bioactivities, including antimicrobial (disc diffusion method), antioxidant (DPPH scavenging assay), and cytotoxic (brine shrimp lethality bioassay) activities. RESULTS: Among the thirteen isolates, Fusarium sp. was the most recognized genus, while the others belonged to Colletotrichum sp. and Pestalotia sp. Comparing the bioactivity of all the extracts, Fusarium sp. was shown to be the most effective endophyte, followed by Colletotrichum sp. and Pestalotia sp. In the antimicrobial study, two isolates of Fusarium sp. (internal strain nos. DSLE-1 and AHPE-4) showed inhibitory activity against all the tested bacteria and the highest zone of inhibition (15.5 ± 0.4 mm) was exerted by AHPE-4 against Bacillus subtillis. All the fungal isolates produced mild to moderate free radical scavenging activity, where the highest antioxidant activity was revealed by one isolate of Fusarium sp. (internal strain no. AHPE-3) with an IC50 value of 84.94 ± 0.41 µg/mL. The majority of Fusarium sp. isolates exhibited notable cytotoxic activity, where AHPE-4 exhibited the highest cytotoxicity, having the LC50 value of 14.33 ± 4.5 µg/mL. CONCLUSION: The findings of the study endorsed that the fungal endophytes isolated from T. maxima, D. spicata, and A. hookerianum hold potential as valuable origins of bioactive substances. Nevertheless, more comprehensive research is warranted, which could develop novel natural compounds from these endophytes to treat various infectious and cancerous diseases.

Isolation and Identification of Endophytic Fungi from Syzygium cumini Linn and Investigation of Their Pharmacological Activities.

This study was conducted to isolate and identify the endophytic fungi from the bark and leaves of the Syzygum cumini plant and investigate the pharmacological activities of endophytic fungi along with plant parts. After isolation, endophytic fungi were identified based on morphological characteristics and molecular identification. Antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities were studied by a disc diffusion method, free radical scavenging DPPH assay, and brine shrimp lethality bioassay, respectively. A total of eight endophytic fungi were isolated and identified up to the genus level based on morphological characteristics and confirmed by molecular identification techniques. Among the eight isolates, three isolates were identified as Colletotrichum sp. (SCBE-2, SCBE-7, and SCLE-9), while the rest of the isolates belonged to Diaporthe sp. (SCBE-1), Pestalotiopsis sp. (SCBE-3), Penicillium sp. (SCBE-4), Phyllosistica sp. (SCLE-7), and Fusarium sp. (SCLE-8). The presence of flavonoids, anthraquinones, coumarins, and isocoumarins was assumed by the preliminary screening of the fungal and plant extracts by a thin-layer chromatographic technique under UV light. Fungal extracts of Pestalotiopsis sp. Penicillium sp. were found sensitive to all test bacteria, but only extracts from the leaf and bark showed significant antifungal activity along with their antimicrobial activity. Penicillium sp. The fungal extract showed the highest free radical scavenging activity (2.43 µg/mL) near that of ascorbic acid (2.42 µg/mL). Some fungal extracts showed cytotoxic activity that, in general, suggests their probable abundance of biological metabolites. This is the first approach to investigate the endophytic fungi of Syzygium cumini Linn. in Bangladesh, to find the pharmacological potential of endophytes, and to explore novel compounds from those endophytes.

Endophytic Fusarium solani: A rich source of cytotoxic and antimicrobial napthaquinone and aza-anthraquinone derivatives.

This study reports the chemical investigation and bioactivity of the secondary metabolites produced by the endophytic fungus Fusarium solani isolated from Cassia alata Linn. growing in Bangladesh. This plant was collected from conservation forest in Bangladesh and belongs to the Caesalpiniaceae family. The endophytic fungus Fusarium solani was isolated from the tissue of root of this plant. The fungal strain was identified by morphological characters and DNA sequencing. The crude organic extract of the fungal strain was proven to be active when tested for cytotoxicity against Brine Shrimp Lethality Bioassay, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. The bioactivity guided fractionation of the ethyl acetate extract leads to the isolation of seven secondary metabolites in pure form. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by the analysis of NMR and mass spectroscopic data. Bioassay investigation of the isolated secondary metabolites suggested aza-anthraquinones are more potent bioactive compounds as anticancer and antimicrobial agent.

Medicinal values of aquatic plant genus Nymphoides grown in Asia: A review

Nymphoides is an aquatic genus consisting about 50 species,of which few were accepted as traditional medicinal plants in Asia.The literature review revealed that Nymphoides species are widely used in Ayurvedic medicine as a popular drug,i.e.Tagara.They are also utilized by the traditional local healers of different Asian countries to treat various diseases,like convulsion,jaundice,fever,headache,etc.According to thein vivo and in vitro pharmacological studies,Nymphoides species have been claimed to possess major biological activities like anticonvulsant,antioxidant,hepatoprotective,cytotoxic,antitumor,etc.Biochemical profiling of different aquatic plants of this genus revealed the presence of some important phytoehemicals as polyphenolic component,flavonoids,triterpenes,carbohydrates,glycosides,etc.Several valuable bioactive compounds including ephedrine,coumarin,secoiridoid glucosides,methyl quercetin,ferulic acid,follamenthoic acid,etc.were also known to be isolated and identified from different Nymphoides species.The aim of this review is to analyze the published report based on the medicinal values of different Asian Nymphoides species,to provide the updlated information about the ethnomedicinal,pharmacological as well as the phytochemical properties for the first time.