Isolation and Characterization of Endophytic Fungi From Calotropis Procera for Their Antioxidant Activity

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of endophytic fungi isolated from Calotropis procera plant. Methods:The endophytic fungi were isolated from explants of leaf, stem, and flower of C. procera on potato dextrose broth (PDB) medium. The fungal isolates were mass cultured in PDB. The methanolic extracts of these fungi were prepared and evaluated for the antioxidant activity by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay and reducing power assay. The extracts were characterized for the presence of phenolics and flavonoids.Results: A total of 8 endophytic fungi were isolated from C. procera explants. Out of these 8 fungal isolates, the crude extracts of two fungi, i.e. CPIMR-2 and CPIL-1 showed positive antioxidant activity. From the morphological characteristics, the isolates CPIMR-2 and CPIL-1 were identified as Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus spp., respectively. Both the isolates were found to possess antioxidant potential with % inhibition value of 81.16% and 80.97% in the DPPH radical scavenging assay. The phytochemical screening of the methanolic extracts showed the presence of phenolics and flavonoids. The total flavonoids content in Penicillium species and Aspergillus species were found to be 130.50 µg/mg and 94.91 µg/mg of extracts, respectively. The total phenolic content was found to be 9.16 µg/mg and 12.13 µg/mg of extracts in Penicillium species and Aspergillus species, respectively. Conclusions:Endophtyic fungi were found to be present in medicinal value plant C. procera. The probable bioactive component for antioxidant activity possessed by the fungi would be the flavonoids and phenolics. These metabolite produced by endophytic fungi from C. procera need to be explored further as potential source of novel natural antioxidant compound.

Assessment of Secondary Metabolites With Relation to Their Antioxidant Activity of Fungal Endophytes Isolated From Medicinal Plants

“…Although all the isolates showed more or less efficient (as observed from intensity of color) for the production of alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins, terpenoids were found to be produced in highest extent in P. singorense and A. alternata, saponins (highest extent of frothing) by P. singorense and phenols (dark bluish green coloration) by P. singorense, Curvularia geniculata and Nigrospora sp. Ability to a produced bioactive compound of the fungal extract has also been reported in recent times [20,[23][24][25].…”

“…1). The occurrence of Aspergillus neoflavipes, Penicillium singorense and Curvularia geniculata as fungal endophytes in C. procera has been reported by several researchers [17][18][19][20]. The occurrence of Alternaria alternata, Penicillium singorense and Nigrospora sp as fungal endophytes has also been investigated [17,19,21,22].…”

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY, TOTAL PHENOLIC, AND FLAVONOID CONTENTS OF THE EXTRACT OF ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI DERIVED FROM TURMERIC (Curcuma longa) LEAVES

“…Some of the chemical compounds in endophytic fungi that are active as antioxidants are phenols and flavonoids. Phenol and flavonoid compounds, contained in some endophytic fungi from plants Calotropis procera, are acting as antioxidants (Nagda et al, 2017).…”

Milkweed Plantcalotropis, A Review

“…The isolated fungal species showed the presence of flavonoids and phenolic coumpounds. [54] 11. Extraction of oil:-The essential oil from the dried leaves of Calotropis procera was analysed by GC-MS.…”