A comparative study on bioactive extracts of endophytic fungi of the leaves and stems of Tithonia diversofolia

Abstract

Natural products as potential sources for novel medications are one of the key goals of phytochemistry. Phytochemicals offer useful lead compounds that can be changed appropriately for subsequent medication development. The Mexican sunflower plant, Tithonia diversifolia, is being investigated in the current study. Sesquiterpenoids, diterpenoids, and flavonoids, among other secondary metabolites, have been identified from Tithonia sp. Endophytic fungi are an important source of phytomolecules, which are bioactive chemicals derived from plants. These substances, which are unique from those found in their host plants, are crucial for improving both the adaptation of endophytic fungus and the plants they live on. In the present study, leaves and stems were examined and endophytic fungi, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Cladosporium sphaerospermum were isolated. Hexane and EtOAc extracts of these fungi were analyzed for their phytoconstituents. Flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids and alkaloids are the major class of compounds identified by using the HPTLC finger printing analysis. The extracts showed significantly high phenolic content. All the endophytic extracts showed cytotoxicity against human leukemic monocyte THP-1 cells and indicated possible anti-cancer activity potential.