Abstract

CYTOTOXIC AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES OF ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI ISOLATED FROM MANGROVES

A. Elavarasi*, S. Peninal, R. Shanmuga Priya and M. Kalaiselvam

Abstract

Endophytes, microorganisms which reside in plant tissues, have potential in producing novel metabolites for exploitation in medicine. Cytotoxic and antibacterial activities of a total of 50 endophytic fungi were investigated. A total of 50 endophytic fungi were isolated from various parts of 5 plants from the Pichavaram Tamil Nadu. Extracts from solid state culture were tested for cytotoxicity against a four number of cancer cell lines using the MTT assay. Antibacterial activity was determined using the disc diffusion method. A total of 50 endophytes were isolated from various parts of plants. 4.1% of extracts showed potent (IC50 < 0.01 μg/ml) cytotoxic activity against the colorectal carcinoma (HCT116) cell line and 2.2% against human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) cell line. Fusarium sp. isolated from Rhizophora mucronata showed strong cytotoxicity against Human chronic myeloid leukemic (K562) and HeLa cell lines with IC50 values of 0. 06 μg/ml and 0.03μg/ml, respectively. Antibacterial activity was demonstrated for 9% of the extracts. Present studies suggest the potential for production of bioactive compounds from mangrove endophytic fungi.

Keywords: Antibacterial activity, Cytotoxic activity, Endophytic fungi, Mangrove.