Bioactive Potential of Cephalosporium sp. a Fungal Endophyte Isolated from Phyllanthus niruri L.

Abstract

Fungal endophytes are fungi that reside within plant tissues without causing apparent harm to their hosts. These fungi produce various bioactive compounds that have potential applications in medicine. This study aimed to cultivate a Cephalosporium sp. fungal endophyte isolated from Phyllanthus niruri L., and evaluate its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities in the endophytic fungal extract. The endophyte was extracted, fractionated, and assessed for total phenolic content, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities, as well as potential as an anti-breast cancer agent against 4T1 cell lines. Results showed that the dichloromethane fraction effectively inhibited the growth of Salmonella typhi with an IC50 value of 12.39 µg/mL. In contrast, the methanol fraction exhibited high antioxidant activity with a free radical scavenging ability of 86%. Moreover, the dichloromethane fraction demonstrated the ability to inhibit 4T1 cell growth with an IC50 value of 18.12 µg/ml. These findings suggest that the dichloromethane fraction has the potential as an antimicrobial and cytotoxic agent against breast cancer cells.&nbsp