Antimicrobial potentials of endophytic fungi inhabiting three Ethno-medicinal plants of Similipal Biosphere Reserve, India

Abstract

Fungal endophytes have been studied from three ethno medicinal plants of Similipal Biosphere Reserve. All the plants were found colonized with endophytic fungi. The endophytes were isolated using three different mycological media namely potato dextrose agar (PDA), malt extract agar (MEA) and water agar (WA). Maximum endophytes were isolated in PDA and minimum on WA medium. Altogether 60 fungal endophytes belonging to 14 genera were isolated from the three medicinal plants. Out of which, 31 endophytes (51.66%) were obtained as filamentous forms and 29 of them (48.33%) as yeast colonies. Species of Curvularia, Fusarium, Alternaria and Penicillium were isolated as dominant and host specific endophytes. Out of the 31 fungal endophytes isolated as filamentous forms, 13 isolates (41.9%) could display antimicrobial activity inhibiting at least one of the test pathogens. Among the potent strains, 19.3% displayed both antibacterial and antifungal activity and 6.4% strain showed antimicrobial activity against all the test pathogens. An endophytic fungus identified as Fusarium sp. displayed significant antimicrobial activity. The crude extract of this endophytic strain was very effective against the bacterial pathogens and moderately active against the fungal pathogens. The study reinforced the assumption that endophytes of ethno medicinal plants could be a promising source of antimicrobial substances.