Bioactive Metabolite Produced by Phomopsis sp., an Endophytic Fungus in Allamanda cathartica Linn.

Endophytes are microbial entities that live within living tissues of plants. In most cases their relationship with the host plant is symbiotic and probably mutualistic. Many are capable of synthesizing bio-active compounds that can be used by the plant for defense against fungi and bacteria. Some of these compounds have been proven useful for novel drug discovery. By encouraging the endophytes to grow outside the plant in nutrient rich media, it is possible to harvest the bio-active compounds that they produce. In the present investigation we are trying to isolate endophytic fungi from Allamanda cathartica (Apocynaceae). The secondary metabolite obtained from the endophytic fungi was found to inhibit the growth of human pathogenic bacteria. The compound was extracted with organic solvents and bioautogram was done to check compound’s antibacterial activity.  Thin layer chromatogram and various other spectroscopic analyses were done to identify the compound as terpene

Taxol production from Pestalotiopsis sp an endophytic fungus Isolated from Catharanthus roseus

Pestalotiopsis sp an endophytic fungi isolated from the medicinal plant Catharanthus roseus, was screened for the production of taxol. The culture filtrate of the Pestalotiopsis sp was extracted with methylene chloride and examined for the presence of taxol by chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis. The results of both the analysis confirmed the presence of taxol. The amount of taxol produced by this fungus, quantified by high performance liquid chromatography was found to be 92µg/L in MID liquid medium. The results designate that the fungal endophyte, Pestalotiopsis funerea is an excellent alternate source for taxol supply and it is also serves as a potential species in medicinal field

Preliminary studies on cytotoxic effect of fungal taxol on cancer cell lines

Taxol is an important anticancer drug used widely in the clinical field. Some endophytic fungi were isolated from selected medicinal plants and screened for the production of taxol. The effect of cytotoxicity of fungal taxol isolated from fungal endophytes was investigated by apoptosis method. Thepresence of taxol in the culture filtrate of endophytic fungi was determined by thin layer chromatography. The fungal taxol isolated from the organic extract of six fungal cultures, had strong cytotoxic activity towards BT 220, H116, Int 407, HL 251 and HLK 210 human cancer cells in vitro

Secondary Metabolite from Phomopsis sp. Isolated from Plumeria acutifolia Poiret

AbstractPlumeria acutifolia Poiret (Apocynaceae) contains eight species of mainly deciduous shrubs and tree, originated from Central America. Some species of this plant are used for the cure of rheumatism, diarrhoea, blennorhea, venereal disease and leprosy. Endophytes are the chemical synthesizers inside plants (Owen et al., 2004). Leaves of Plumeria acutifolia were submitted to isolation of endophytic fungi. The strain Phomopsis sp was selected for chemical and biological investigation because of the strong antibacterial activity and also rich source of secondary metabolites. Ethylacetate fraction of the fungus found to have terpenoid compound, which was further subjected to Thin layer chromatography (TLC), UV, FT-IR spectroscopic analysis. The terpenoid compound was found to have antibacterial activity whereas the same compound does not show any positive results towards human pathogenic Candida albicans. This is the first report of the isolation, cultivation of fungus Phomopsis sp and evaluation of antibacterial activity. Keywords: Apocynaceae, Antibacterial activity, Terpenoids, Endophytes, Phomopsis, Coelomycete

Studies on Antimicrobial Activities of Chaetomium atrobrunneum Ames against Selected Microorganisms

The antibacterial and antifungal activities of Chaetomium atrobrunneum was investigated against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram +ve), Escherichia coli (Gram –ve) and Candida albicans using well diffusion and dilution method. The solvents used for extraction experiment was Ethylacetate and Dichloromethane and were removed in vacuo to yield viscous oils and paste which were made upto M1D DCM extract-0.04g, M1D EtOAc extract-0.03g, PDB EtOAc extract-0.04g, YPS EtOAc extract-0.025g dissolved in 10ml of DMSO each respectively. These were tested in varying volumes of 100-200µl/plate. Ampicillin and Itraconazole were used as references for bacteria and fungi . The solvent extracts of Chaetomium atrobrunneum showed higher antimicrobial inhibitory activity at 0.8mg/200µl of PDB EtOAc extract plate and the antioxidant activity test has been done with this PDB EtOAc extract. The extract which showed the higher antimicrobial activity is PDB-ethylacetate extract was taken for antioxidant study

Antioxidant Activity of Endophytic Fungus Phyllosticta sp. Isolated from Guazuma tomentosa

SUMMARYAntioxidant property of Phyllosticta sp. culture filtrate extracted with ethanol was evaluated in vitro. ABTS and DPPH radicals were used to evaluate their antioxidant activity. Antioxidant components like total phenol and flavonoid were also determined. The ethanolic extract of Phyllosticta sp. showed potent antioxidant activity against both ABTS and DPPH radicals with the EC50 value of 580.02 ± 0.57µg/ml and 2030.25±0.81 µg/ml respectively. Total amount of phenol and flavonoid quantified were of 18.33 ± 0.68 gallic acid equivalents per gram and 6.44 ± 1.24 µg/mg of quercetin equivalent respectively. In conclusion, the culture filtrate of Phyllosticta sp. may have potential source of natural antioxidant. Key words: Antioxidant, ABTS, DPPH, phenol, Phyllosticta sp. K. Srinivasan et al. Antioxidant Activity of Endophytic Fungus Phyllosticta sp. isolated from Guazuma tomentosa. J Phytol 2/6 (2010) 37-41

Isolation and detection of taxol, an anticancer drug produced from Lasiodiplodia theobromae, an endophytic fungus of the medicinal plant Morinda citrifolia

To determine the production of taxol from an endophytic fungus, Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from the medicinal plant Morinda citrifolia and also, to evaluate its cytotoxicity against human breast cancer cell line, taxol produced by the test fungus in MID culture medium was isolated for its characterization. The presence of taxol was confirmed by different chromatographic and spectroscopic analyses. The quantity of taxol produced by the fungus was calculated and estimated to be 245 μg/l. The fungal taxol was tested for its bioactivity against human cancer cell line (MCF-7) and the results showed that, the taxol possessed anticancer activity. The production of taxol was achieved from an endophytic fungus, L. theobromae. The screened taxol showed a potential toxicity against breast cancer cell lines. Fungal based production of taxol from an endophytic fungus would be the most desirable and alternate source of supply. This study proved that the fungal endophyte L. theobromae is an excellent candidate for an alternate source of taxol supply. Confirmations of the in vitro activity of taxol against human breast cancer cell lines should encourage further research. Furthermore, it is the first report of the screening of taxol from the fungus L. theobromae, isolated from the medicinal plant M. citrifolia.Key words: Endophytic fungus, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, anticancer drug, taxol production, cytotoxicity test

Dwiroopa, a new genus of the Coelomycetes

Dwiroopa, anamorph gen. nov. and Dwiroopa ramya anamorph sp. nov. are proposed to accommodate a eustromatic fungus collected on dead twigs from forests of Western Ghats in Agumbe, Karnataka State. The fungus produces stromata within which two types, the α- and β-conidia are produced. Both are solitary, one-celled, gangliar and brown coloured but the α-conidia are clearly larger, darker and have very characteristic striations on the surface, absent in the β-conidia. In addition, small, one-celled, allantoid, phialoconidia may be produced in some of the conidiomata. The present fungus is compared with the closely allied Coelomycete genusHarknessia Cooke