Abstract

ISOLATION AND ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTY OF ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI ISOLATED FROM INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANT CALOTROPIS PROCERA (LINN.) R.BR.

Ravindra Prasad Aharwal, Suneel Kumar and Sardul S. Sandhu*

ABSTRACT

Endophytes are those organisms that colonize the living internal tissues of their hosts without causing any visible symptoms. Several fungal endophytes have been isolated from a variety of plant species which have proved as a rich source of bioactive compounds. Calotropis procera (Linn.) R.Br. a widely used medicinal plant in India, were exploited for endophytes as a possible source of bioactive secondary metabolites. Considering the importance of this plant, a study was conducted to determine the colonization frequency of endophytic fungi and to evaluate the antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonae, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis of DMSO crude extracts of fungal endophytes from this plant. The endophytic fungi from different parts of the plant (leaves, stems and roots) were isolated, pure cultures were raised and identified based on the morphology and characteristics of fungal spores. The highest colonization frequency of fungi was observed in leaf (Aspergillus niger, 33.33 %), stem (Altenaria alternate, 33.33%) and root (Curvularia lunata, 33.33%). The endophytic fungi that displayed broad spectrum antibacterial activity include: Fusarium solani, Cladosporium herbarum, Curvularia pallescens, Alternaria alternata and Drechslera nodulosa. Our preliminary results indicate that crude extracts of endophytic fungi of Calotropis procera (Linn.) R.Br. may possess some antibacterial bioactive compounds.

Keywords: Antibacterial activity, Endophytic fungi, DMSO crude extract, Morphological study, Calotropis procera (Linn.) R.Br.