Assessment of Antibacterial and Antifungal Efficacy of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Psoralea Corylifolia Linn.

Abstract

Endophytic fungi that inhabit host plants symbiotically and cause no harm to the host plants. In past few decades variants of endophytic fungi have been isolated and identified with medicinal properties finding wider application as bio-control agents, bio-fertilizer, bio-stimulant and natural products. In lieu of this, the present study aims to isolate, identify, and evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal activities of endophytic fungi obtained from Psoralea corylifolia Linn. Total 4 endophytic fungi were isolated from the root, stem and leaves of host plant that is Piriformospora indica, Alternaria alternate, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium citrinum. Antibacterial activity of three crude extracts including butanol, ethyl acetate, and methanol of different fungal endophytes was appraised against Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, and Salmonella typhi, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus and Antifungal efficacy of different crude extracts of fungal endophytes was also appraised against three pathogenic fungal strains including Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus and Candida albicans. The result revealed that the maximum antibacterial efficacy was found in methanol extract of Piriformospora indica in the test organism bacillus subtilis that was 20.3±0.57 followed by ethyl acetate that was 18.66±0.57. The maximum antifungal activity was found in methanol extract of Alternaria alternate in the test organism Aspergillus niger that was 43.1 followed by Penicillium citrinum in the test organism Aspergillus fumigatus that was 42.8. More study will be done in future on exploration and exploitation of these microorganisms for pharmaceuticals applications and also used as a biocontrol agent. The present study is the first report on the investigation of antifungal and antibacterial properties of endophytic fungus that have been isolated from Psoralea corylifolia.