Endophytic Fungi Isolation and Identification from Stem of Tinospora Cordifolia

Abstract

Endophytes refer to the microorganisms (mostly fungi and bacteria) colonising the intercellular and intracellular regions of healthy plant tissues at a particular time, whose presence is unobtrusive and asymptomatic. Fungal endophytes are believed to be treasure of structurally and biologically active compounds. Sometimes, the medicinal properties of plants result from the endophytes present in the host plant and the type of secondary metabolites produced by those endophytes. The present study was conducted with a culture-dependent based approach in order to isolate, identify endophytic fungi from stem of Tinospora cordifolia i.e. common medicinal plant Giloy. In this study a total of nine endophytic fungal isolates were obtained. All isolates were primarily identified by morphological characteristics and then were subjected to single spore isolation process where distinguished culture of every individual colony was prepared and phyto-genetically examined by molecular experiments. The endophytic fungi were velvety reddish white or grey, cottony and woolly grey or pink growth with spores touching the lid converted the agar into red, grey, pink colour. The growth characteristics of endophytic fungal isolates in Potato dextrose broth showed mycelia formation at the surface with colouration of the broth as seen on the agar. Molecular characterization was done by Polymerase chain reaction and gene sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer regions of the rDNA gene which revealed that the endophytic fungi isolates from Tinospora cordifolia stem belonged to Phoma sojicola and Lasiodiploda theobromae. Acknowledgements: We are thankful to the department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India 482001 for providing necessary facilities to carry out the research work. ORCHIT: 0000-0001-5517-4161

DNA barcoding of herbal supplements on the US commercial market associated with the purported treatment of COVID‐19

“…( n = 1), threeleaf cayratia ( Causonis trifolia ; n = 2), and Alexandrian senna ( Senna alexandrina ; n = 1). One of the products that contained guduchi and threeleaf cayratia also tested positive for the fungus Lasiodiplodia spp., which has previously been associated as an endophyte of guduchi 53 . All three of the undeclared plants detected are used in Ayurveda: Withania for immune boosting and antioxidant purposes, Alexandrian senna for laxative purposes, and threeleaf cayratia as a diuretic and in the treatment of various conditions 34,49,54 .…”

“…One of the products that contained guduchi and threeleaf cayratia also tested positive for the fungus Lasiodiplodia spp., which has previously been associated as an endophyte of guduchi. 53 All three of the undeclared plants detected are used in Ayurveda: Withania for immune boosting and antioxidant purposes, Alexandrian senna for laxative purposes, and threeleaf cayratia as a diuretic and in the treatment of various conditions. 34,49,54 Therefore, it is possible that the guduchi products were unintentionally contaminated during the processing of these herbs for use in Ayurveda.…”