Abstract
BackgroundEndophytes, microorganisms which reside in plant tissues, have potential in producing novel metabolites for exploitation in medicine. Cytotoxic and antibacterial activities of a total of 300 endophytic fungi were investigated.MethodsEndophytic fungi were isolated from various parts of 43 plants from the National Park Pahang, Malaysia. Extracts from solid state culture were tested for cytotoxicity against a number of cancer cell lines using the MTT assay. Antibacterial activity was determined using the disc diffusion method.ResultsA total of 300 endophytes were isolated from various parts of plants from the National Park, Pahang. 3.3% of extracts showed potent (IC50 < 0.01 μg/ml) cytotoxic activity against the murine leukemic P388 cell line and 1.7% against a human chronic myeloid leukemic cell line K562. Sporothrix sp. (KK29FL1) isolated from Costus speciosus showed strong cytotoxicity against colorectal carcinoma (HCT116) and human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) cell lines with IC50 values of 0.05 μg/ml and 0.02 μg/ml, respectively. Antibacterial activity was demonstrated for 8% of the extracts.ConclusionResults indicate the potential for production of bioactive agents from endophytes of the tropical rainforest flora.
Highlights
MethodsEndophytic fungi were isolated from various parts of 43 plants from the National Park
Endophytes, microorganisms which reside in plant tissues, have potential in producing novel metabolites for exploitation in medicine
Kuala Keniam (KK) and Kuala Trenggan (KT), where medicinal plants could be found in abundance were selected for sampling
Summary
Plant materials were obtained from the National Park, Pahang, Malaysia in June, 2007. Isolation of endophytes from the 43 plant samples was carried out as described by Strobel et al, [4] but with minor modifications. The cut surfaces of the segments were placed on petri dishes containing potato dextrose agar (PDA) (Oxoid) supplemented with chlortetracycline. For investigations of biological activity, the endophytes were cultivated for 14 days on PDA plates at 28°C. Endophytic http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/9/46 cultures (five plates per fungus) were homogenized and transferred to a 500 ml conical flask filled with 250 ml. (Sigma) assay, as described by Mosmann, 1983 [6] but with minor modification, following 72 h of incubation. Endophytic extracts (10 μl) dissolved in DMSO (1 mg/ml) were pipetted (10 μl) onto sterile paper discs (6 mm diameter, Oxoid) and placed onto the surface of inoculated agar plates. Antibacterial activity was expressed as the diameter of the inhibition zone (mm) produced by the extracts
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