Antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of endophytic bacteria isolated from mangrove species

Abstract

Mangroves have proven to possess strong bioactivities to survive their complex environmental condition. However, apart from the primary function of mangroves as an ecosystem keeper, mangroves are often overexploited for construction materials. Hence, their medicinal purposes are often overlooked, and the direct exploration of pharmacologically active compounds derived from mangrove species seems illogical. Endophytic bacteria are found capable of producing secondary metabolites similar or even the same as their host plant. Therefore, exploration of endophytic bacteria from mangroves becomes an excellent alternative for bioproduction of certain plant-specific bioactive compounds. Moreover, mangroves live in an extreme living environment, and therefore, may contain interesting endophytic bacteria that possess remarkable bioactivities, particularly antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. Endophytic bacteria were isolated from mangrove species collected from the Segara Anakan Lagoon, on the south coast of Java, Indonesia. Isolated bacteria were cultivated to produce secondary metabolites. Fermentation liquid was then extracted and investigated for its antioxidant activity and cytotoxic activity. Secondary metabolites from isolated bacteria showed to have potentials to be used as an antioxidant as well as a cytotoxic agent.