INT J CURR SCI 2011, 1: 85-90 RESEARCH ARTICLE Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. GJJM07 isolated from Mesua ferrea Ganapathi Jayanthia, Subban Kamalraja, Kannan Karthikeyanb and Johnpaul Muthumarya* aCentre for Advanced studies in Botany, University of Madras, Maraimalai campus, Chennai-600 025, India bWetland Division, Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology, P.B.No.83, Mundra Road, Changleshwar temple Bhuj-370 001, Kachchh, Gujarat, India *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Abstract Phomopsis sp. GJJM07 was isolated as an endophyte from the medicinal plant, Mesua ferrea. The crude extract of the fungus was evaluated for antimicrobial and free radical scavenging (DPPH) activity. Hence this endophytic fungus were grown in different media and were tested for its potent antimicrobial activity against the test pathogens, gram positive bacteria viz., Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus; gram negative bacteria viz., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and yeast, Candida albicans. Among the different media, M1D medium showed good growth 1.57 g MDW/100 ml and broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity by exhibiting prominent zone of inhibition against the test pathogens such as E. coli (16±0.14), K. pneumoniae (16±0.19), B. subtilis (18±0.13), M. luteus (12±0.18) and C. albicans (12±0.20). Phomopsis sp. GJJM07 was also examined for the in vitro antioxidant activity by DPPH radical scavenging assay. The ethyl acetate extract of the fungus showed potent antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 31.25 µg/ml compared to the IC50 value of standard ascorbic acid, 11.11 µg/ml. Keywords: Mesua ferrea, Phomopsis sp, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity. Received: 09th October; Revised: 25th October; Accepted: 02ndNovember; © IJCS New Liberty Group 2011 Introduction inflammatory, antipyretic and anthelmintic in many Fungal endophytes have also been cases. In India, it is known for its use in fever, itching, recognized as a repository of novel secondary nausea, leprosy, skin disorders, erysipelas, bleeding metabolites, some of which have beneficial biological piles, metrorrhagea, menorrhagea, excessive thirst, activities (Bills and Polishook, 1991). Endophytic and sweating (Garg et al., 2009). The genus fungi embraces affluent sources of bioactive Phomopsis is a rich source of biologically active compounds (Strobel et al., 2004) and recently secondary metabolites including antimicrotubule numerous novel bioactive substances have been phomopsidin (Kobayashi et al., 2003), antimalarial isolated from these microorganisms (Wagenaar et al., and antitubercular phomoxanthones (Isaka et al., 2001; Li and Strobel et al., 2001; Brady, 2001; 2001), antifungal phomoxanthone A (Elsaesser et al., Shrestha et al., 2001; Kongsaeree et al., 2003). The 2005) and phomodiol (Horn et al., 1994). The study on endophytic fungi from medicinal plants has compounds isolated and characterized from received much attention in recent years as they are endophytes have potential for use in modern medicine, believed to be an excellent source of biologically agriculture and industry. Free radicals are often active compounds. Mesua ferrea belonging to family generated as by products of biological reactions or Clusiaceae commonly called Ceylon ironwood, Indian from exogenous factors. The involvement of free rose chestnut, Cobra's saffron or Nagkesar. The seed radicals in the pathogenesis of a large number of oil of this tree found to be astringent, digestant, anti diseases is well documented. A potent scavenger of poisonous, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti- free radicals may serve as a possible preventive Jayanthi et al., 2011 intervention for the diseases (Gyamfi et al., 1999). amended with chloramphenicol. The petridishes were Antioxidants may protect the body against ROS sealed using parafilm™ and incubated at 23 ±2ºC in a toxicity either by averting the formation of ROS by light chamber with 12 hrs light followed by 12 hrs of bringing disruption in ROS attack, by converting them dark cycles. The Petri dishes were observed at regular to less reactive molecules or by scavenging the intervals starting from the second day onwards for the reactive metabolites (Sen, 1995; Hegde and Joshi, fungal growth. The emerging fungal propagules were 2009). The natural antioxidants were characterized isolated, purified and maintained by subsequent from the fungal compounds (Sun et al., 2004). subculturing (Bills, 1996). The identifications of the Therefore the uses of antioxidants, both natural and endophytic fungi were based on their morphology and synthetic are gaining broad significance in prevention the mechanism of spore production using standard of diseases. To date, many kinds of bioactive manuals (Sutton, 1980). compounds have been isolated from various Test pathogens Phomopsis sp. (Prachya et al., 2007; Vatcharin et al., Four different bacterial strains and yeast 2008). During the course of a bioactive survey of the were employed for the successful completion of the endophytes from Mesua ferrea, the fungus Phomopsis study viz., Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 441), Micrococcus sp.GJJM07 was isolated, identified and selected for luteus (MTCC 1541), Escherichia coli (MTCC 443), further investigation. Hence the current study was Klebsiella pneumoniae (MTCC 109) and Candida designed to investigate the antimicrobial and albicans (MTCC 227) obtained from Microbial Type antioxidant potential of endophytic fungus Phomopsis Culture Collection (MTCC), Chandigarh, India were sp. GJJM07 isolated from a medicinal plant, Mesua maintained on nutrient agar slants in refrigerated ferrea. condition. Materials and methods Mueller Hinton Agar (MHA) The endophytic coelomycetous fungi was The commercially available MHA isolated (Dobranic et al., 1995; Schulz et al., 1998) purchased from HiMedia Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai, India was from the medicinal plant Mesua ferrea L., collected used in this study. from Azhiyar (10.4739˚N, 76.9728˚E, located in Phomopsis sp. GJJM07 in different media Anamalai foothill of the Western ghats), Pollachi To prepare inocula for fermentation studies, Taluk, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India. mycelial discs (9 mm) of 7 days old culture of Isolation of endophytic fungi Phomopsis sp. GJJM07 were removed and transferred The healthy plant were washed in running aseptically into each 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask tap water and the samples were surface sterilized by containing 100 ml of PDB, PDYEB, M-1DB, MEB following the protocol described by modified method and CDB medium . The seed flasks were incubated at of Dobranic et al. (1995). The leaf segments were cut 23 ± 2°C for 28 days under static condition. After into 2 mm2 segments and were surface sterilized by incubation, the growth of fungi was measured by sequentially plunging into 70% for 5 seconds, means of mycelial dry weight. followed by 4% sodium hypochlorite for 90 seconds Extraction and antimicrobial activity and then rinsed with sterile water for 10 seconds. The After 28 days of incubation period, the excess moisture was blotted in a sterile filter paper. cultures were filtered through four layers of cheese The efficacy of the sterilization procedure was cloth to remove mycelia. Then the culture filtrate was ascertained with the method of Schulz et al. (1998). extracted with two equal volumes of ethyl The segments were transferred to the petriplate acetate. The organic phase was collected and the containing PDA (Potato Dextrose Agar) medium solvent was then removed by evaporation under Jayanthi et al., 2011

percentage inhibition activity was calculated from

[(A0–A1)/A0] x100, Where A0 is the absorbance of the control, and A1 is the absorbance of the extract/ standard. The inhibition curves were prepared and IC50 values were calculated.

reduced pressure using rotary vacuum evaporator. The dry solid residue was re-dissolved in 10% DMSO for antimicrobial activity. Mueller Hinton agar (MHA) medium plates were seeded separately with 105 active growths of test organisms viz., B. subtilis, M. luteus, E. coli, K. pneumonia and C. albicans was distributed by a sterile cotton swab on the surface of the NA medium and left Results and discussion for 5 min in a laminar air flow cabinet to dry. Yeast The fungus used in this study is the pathogen was grown on SDA medium for endophyte isolated from the mature leaves of the antimicrobial activity. After drying, a well was created medicinal plant, Mesua ferrea. The endophytic using sterile cork borer (9 mm) and the crude extract fungus, Phomopsis sp. GJJM07 were isolated, purified of Phomopsis sp.GJJM07 grown in different media and maintained by subsequent subculturing (Bills, was transferred to the well. The well that received 1996). Fungal endophytes have also been recognized similar volume of 10% DMSO was served as control. as a warehouse of novel secondary metabolites, some The plates were incubated for 24 hrs at 37°C. The of which have valuable biological activities (Bills and development of inhibition zone around the well was Polishook, 1991). The endophytic fungus Phomopsis measured and recorded. sp. is known to be an affluent source of bioactive secondary metabolites with diverse structures (Rukachaisirikul et al., 2008). As a way to estimate the significance of this fungus Phomopsis sp. GJJM07 for industrial screening programmes, it was grown in different medium and evaluated for the production of antimicrobial activities against a panel of target

Antioxidant activity microorganisms, including gram positive, gram DPPH radical scavenging activity negative bacteria and yeast. Among the different The free radical scavenging activity of the media, M1DB showed excellent growth (1.57 g extract, based on the scavenging activity of the stable MDW/100 ml) (Fig. 1) and antimicrobial activity 1, 1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical against the test pathogens such as E. coli (16±0.14), K. was determined by the method described by Braca et pneumoniae (16±0.19), B. subtilis (18±0.13), al. (2001). Crude extract (0.1 ml) was added to 3ml of M. luteus (12±0.18) and C. albicans (12±0.20) a 0.004% solution of DPPH. Absorbance at followed by PDB which exhibited significant activity 517 nm was determined after 30 min, and the against E. coli (14±0.17), K. pneumoniae (15±0.24), Jayanthi et al., 2011

B. subtilis (12±0.22), M. luteus (10±0.14) and experiment. The DPPH radical contains an old C. albicans (11±0.16). CDB, PDYEB and MEB electron, which is accountable for the absorbance at showed slight inhibitory effects on the test pathogens 517 nm and also for a visible deep purple color. DPPH (Fig. 2). The data clearly revealed the pronounced is decolorized when it accepts an electron donated by activity of ethyl acetate extract in M1D medium. Thus an antioxidant compound, which can be quantitatively M1D medium was found to be the reservoir of measured from the changes in absorbance. The crude Phomopsis sp. GJJM07 for the production of extract of Phomopsis sp. GJJM exhibited antioxidant (Chomcheon et al., 2005). activity with IC50 value, 31.25 µg/ml compared to the Phomopsis species are the rich source of secondary IC50 value of ascorbic acid, 11.11 µg/ml (Fig. 3). metabolites possessing promising antimicrobial and Scavenging of DPPH radical was found to rise with antiviral activity (Du et al., 2008; Bunyapaiboonsri escalating concentration of the extracts (Hasan et al., et al., 2010). The potential against some 2009). Even though the DPPH scavenging aptitude of bacteria and human tumor cells of secondary the extracts was found to be lower than that of the metabolites from P. longicolla has been previously commercial antioxidant, ascorbic acid, it is still reported (Wagenaar and Clardy, 2001). reached 91% inhibition at 100 µg/ml concentration. Thus this study suggests that the Phomopsis sp.GJJM07 has highlighted the potentiality of antimicrobial and also it is a persuasive resource of natural antioxidants. Fig. 3. Graphical representation of antioxidant activity of Phomopsis sp. GJJM 07

Antioxidant activity of Phomopsis sp. GJJM07

150 100 Asc.acid 50 sample

inhibition(%) 0 To explore the effects of the Phomopsis Percentage of 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 sp.GJJM07 extract on in vitro antioxidant activity, the Different concentration DPPH scavenging rate was studied. Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit or delay the oxidation process Conclusion by preventing the initiation or propagation of The present study concludes that the oxidizing chain reactions. DPPH radical scavenging presence of bioactive compound in the extract which assay is a swift and sensitive method for the exhibited antimicrobial and antioxidant activity in antioxidant activity. A number of methods are Phomopsis sp.GJJM07. Furthermore, active crude available for the determination of free radical extracts are being subjected to various scavenging activity but the assay of using the stable 2, pharmacological evaluations by several methods for 2- diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH) has the isolation and identification of active compounds received the utmost attention owing to the ease of use may provide a better source for developing new and its convenience (Moreno et al., 1998). Ascorbic therapeutic agents, which also indicates the potential acid was chosen as the standard antioxidant for this Jayanthi et al., 2011 applications of such compounds as natural Brunswick, Canada. Can J Microbiol 41: antioxidants in different pharmaceutical products. 194-198. Acknowledgements Du X, Lu C, Li Y, Zheng Z, Su W, Shen Y (2008). Authors are grateful to Dr. R. Rengasamy, Three new antimicrobial metabolites of Director, Centre for Advanced studies in Botany, Phomopsis sp. J Antibiot 61: 250-253. University of Madras, Maraimalai campus, Guindy, Elsaesser B, Krohn K, Floerke U, Root N, Aust H, Chennai-25, Tamil Nadu, India for providing Draeger S, Schulz B, Antus S, Kurtan T necessary lab facilities to carry out this work. (2005). X-ray structure determination, References absolute configuration and biological Bills GF (1996). Isolation and analysis of endophytic activity of phomoxanthone A. Eur J Org fungal communities from woody plants. In: Chem 21: 4563-4570. Redlin SC and Carris LM (Eds.). Garg S, Sharma K, Ranjan R, Attri P, Mishra P Endophytic Fungi in Grasses and Woody (2009). In vivo Antioxidant activity and Plants, USA: APS Press; p. 31-65. hepatoprotective effects of methanolic Bills GF, Polishook JD (1991). Microfungi from extract of Mesua ferrea Linn. Int J Pharm Carpinus caroliniana. Can J Bot 69: 1477- Tech. Res 1: 1692-1696. 1482. Gyamfi MA, Yonamine M, Aniya Y (1999). Free- Braca A, Tommasi ND, Bari LD, Pizza C, Politi M, radical scavenging action of medicinal Morelli I (2001). Natural anti-oxidants herbs from Ghana: Thonningia sanguinea from plant material in phenolic compounds on experimentally-induced liver injuries. in food and their effects on health. J Nat Gen Pharmacol 32: 661-667. Prod 64: 892-895. Hasan SMR, Jamila M, Majumder MM, Akter R, Brady SF, Bondi SM, Clardy J (2001). The Hossain MM, Mazumder MEH, Alam MA, guanacastepenes: a highly diverse family Jahangir R, Rana MS, Rahman S (2009). of secondary metabolites produced by an Analgesic and Antioxidant Activity of the endophytic fungus. J Am Chem Soc 123: Hydromethanolic Extract of Mikania 9900-9901. scandens (L.) Wild. Leaves. Am J Bunyapaiboonsri T, Yoiprommarat S, Srikitikulchai P, Pharmacol Toxicol 4: 1-7. Srichomthong K, Lumyong S (2010). Hegde K, Joshi AB (2009). Hepatoprotective effect of Oblongolides from the endophytic fungus Carissa carandas Linn root extract against Phomopsis sp. BCC 9789. J Nat Prod 73: CCl4 and paracetamol induced hepatic 55-59. oxidative stress. Ind J Exp Biol 47: Chomcheon P, Wiyakrutta S, Sriubolmas N, 660‐667. Ngamrojanavanich N, Isarangkul D, Horn WS, Schwartz RE, Simmonds MSJ, Blaney WM Kittakoop P (2005). 3-Nitropropionic acid (1994). Isolation and characterization of (3-NPA), a potent antimycobacterial agent phomodiol, a new antifungal from from endophytic fungi: Is 3-NPA in some Phomopsis. Tetrahedron Lett 35: 6037- plants produced by endophytes?. J Nat 6040. Prod 68: 1103-1105. Isaka M, Jaturapat A, Rukseree K, Danwisetkanjana Dobranic JK, Johnson JA, Alikhan QR (1995). K, Tanticharoen M, Thebtaranonth Y Isolation of endophytic fungi from eastern (2001). Phomoxanthones A and B, novel larch (Larix laricina) leaves from New dimmers from the endophytic Jayanthi et al., 2011

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