Mycobiology.  2012 Mar;40(1):8-13.

Diversity and Biological Activities of Endophytic Fungi of Emblica officinalis, an Ethnomedicinal Plant of India

• Nath A
• Raghunatha P
• Joshi SR

Abstract

In the present study, an attempt to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of fungal endophytes inhabiting Emblica officinalis has been made keeping in view the medicinal importance of the selected host plant in Indian traditional practices. A total of four endophytic fungi belonging to Phylum Ascomycetes were isolated from different parts of the plant which were characterized morphologically and by using rDNA-internal transcribed spacer. The most frequently isolated endophyte was Phomopsis sp. The antioxidant activity by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and reducing power assay, and total phenol were evaluated using ethanolic extract of endophytic fungi. DPPH activities in all the ethanolic extract increased with the increase in concentrations. Endophytes, Phomopsis sp. and Xylaria sp. showed highest antioxidant activity and also had the higher levels of phenolics. Antimicrobial activity of fungal extract were tested against four bacteria namely, Escherichia coli MTCC730, Enteroccocus faecalis MTCC2729, Salmonella enterica ser. paratyphi MTCC735 and Streptococcus pyogenes MTCC1925, and the fungus Candida albicans MTCC183. In general, the fungal extracts inhibited the growth of test organisms except E. coli.

Keyword

Antimicrobial activity; Emblica officinalis; Endophytic fungi; Reducing power assay; 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl

MeSH Terms

Ascomycota
Bacteria
Biphenyl Compounds
Candida albicans
Endophytes
Escherichia coli
Ethanol
India
Phenol
Phyllanthus emblica
Picrates
Plants
Salmonella enterica
Streptococcus pyogenes
Biphenyl Compounds
Ethanol
Phenol
Picrates