Abstract
The present study explores the efficacy of an endophytic fungus from plant Achyranthus aspera, an herb of medicinal importance. Considering limitation of secreted fungal metabolites in terms of biologically active molecules; an endeavour was made to increase the amount of secreted active product. Enhanced secretion of active compound was observed by optimizing different parameters of culture conditions. The fungal culture was isolated from stem of Achyranthus aspera and taxonomically identified as Aspergillus terreus. While analysing it’s different in vitro potential, culture metabolites showed antibacterial, antifungal and anti-oxidant activity. In order to increase the yield of crude compounds, culture was optimized for different parameters such as carbon and nitrogen sources and extracting solvent. All the optimization was performed based on % inhibition of bacterial growth when challenged with 10 μg/μl metabolite concentration. Among different media used, potato dextrose broth (PDB) and sabouraud's dextrose broth (SDB) proven to be better media for growth of fungus as well as metabolites production. 1% yeast extract and 4% dextrose resulted in higher cell inhibition. Ethyl acetate served as good extracting solvent.
Highlights
Endophytes are the cryptic factories of diversified metabolites inside plant, synthesising significant compounds of unknown or known medicinal importance
In the present study we have demonstrated the optimum culture conditions required for maximum secretion of antibacterial compounds by the endophytic fungal genus JAS-2, which was isolated from Achyranthus aspera, commonly known as latzeera, chichida, apamarga
The fungal growth was observed as white mycelia colonies on potato dextrose agar (PDA) Clinical human pathogens which turned to brownish yellow after few days (Figures 1b, c)
Summary
Endophytes are the cryptic factories of diversified metabolites inside plant, synthesising significant compounds of unknown or known medicinal importance As they are endowed with multitude diversity structure, their physiological functions [1] are being continuously chased for bioactive principles. Study on this endophytic mycoflora revealed that endophytes could be alternative form of drug and by optimizing the culture conditions; activity of bioactive compounds could be enhanced. Apart from identifying newer metabolites, it is important to unveil the structure of already identified biometabolite such as taxol, [3] which revealed the production of host metabolite (host mimetic) from its endophytes. There are number of reports are available in direction of conditioning cultural parameters by altering the fermentation conditions such as media, pH and temperature
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