Abstract
Objective: The detection of fungal endophytes and assessment of their antioxidant activity isolated from two medicinally important plants, Calotropis procera (L.) R. Br. and Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. from parts of Burdwan district of West Bengal, India.Methods: Isolation of fungal endophytes was carried out following the standard methods in potato dextrose agar (PDA) media. Identification, determination of colonization frequency, fermentation and extraction was done as stated in the standard protocol. Qualitative assay of the bioactive compound has investigated by standard protocol specifically for them. Quantitative estimation of total phenol was done by spectrophotometric method using gallic acid as standard. The antioxidant activity of the cell-free extract was determined by phosphomolybdenum assay and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging method.Results: Three dominant endophytic fungi each from C. procera and C. roseus with high colonization frequency in Penicillium singorense 25% and Alternaria alternata 21.87 % respectively has isolated and identified. Qualitative detection of secondary metabolites revealed that Penicillium singorense isolated from both plants and Aspergillus neoflaviceps (from C. procera) were found to be able to produce all the functional metabolites so far tested. It is evident that highest phenol 27.65±1.2 mg/g and flavonoid 2.06±0.1 mg/g content was shown by Curvularia geniculata. Highest antioxidant activity was exhibited by C. geniculata in both phosphomolybdenum assay i.e., total antioxidant capacity 2.46±0.11 and % inhibition of DPPH radical 94.55±0.015%.Conclusion: Present study, therefore highlights the growing concept that the bioactive compounds produced by the endophytes not only established host endophyte relationship but also have an immense chance of an application in the field of medicine, agriculture and industry.
Highlights
Fungal endophytes are those organisms which establish mutuality with the tissues of actively growing plants
DRC4 MH021686 Alternaria alternata roseus, which were subjected to plate culture showed growth of fungal endophytes in most of the sample
The occurrence of Aspergillus neoflavipes, Penicillium singorense and Curvularia geniculata as fungal endophytes in C. procera has been reported by several researchers [17,18,19,20]
Summary
Fungal endophytes are those organisms which establish mutuality with the tissues of actively growing plants. Endophytes performs antioxidant activity against reactive oxygen species (ROS) like superoxide, hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide produced in the metabolic process within the living cells of all organisms. The free radicals play a beneficial role in cell signaling at low or moderate concentration, become harmful when produced in excess causing oxidative stress leading to damage of DNA, RNA, proteins and lipids. In human body excess production of free radicals enhances the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, autism, etc. To scavenge such free radical endogenous production of an antioxidant has been found insufficient enough and exogenous supply of antioxidants is earnestly needed to make a balance between the level of free radicals and antioxidants. Fungal endophytes may act as an alternative available low cost source of antioxidant
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