Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of diversity, distribution and antibacterial activity of endophytic fungi isolated from a medicinal plant Adenocalymma alliaceum Miers

  • Published:
Symbiosis Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A study was conducted for isolation, identification and antibacterial potential of fungal endophytes of Adenocalymma alliaceum Miers., (Bignoniaceae), a medicinal shrub vine plant which has long history for its usages in curing various disorders. A total of 149 isolates of endophytic fungi representing 17 fungal taxa were obtained from 270 segments (90 from each stem, leaf and petiole) of this plant. Hyphomycetes (77.85%) were the most prevalent, followed by Ascomycetes (8.05%) and Coelomycetes (4.03%) respectively. A considerable amount of fungal isolates was kept under (10.07%) Mycelia-Sterilia (MS). Leaf harboured maximum colonization of endophytic fungi (72.22%) which was greater than stem (67.78%) and petiole (25.54%). The Jc similarity index was maximum (0.619) between stem vs leaf followed by leaf vs petiole (0.571) and stem vs petiole (0.428). The dominant endophytic fungi were Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Stenella agalis, Fusarium oxysporum, Curvularia lunata and Fusarium roseum. Among twelve endophytic fungi tested for antibacterial activity, crude extracts of nine endophytic fungi (75%), showed antibacterial potential against one or more clinical human pathogens. Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata, Penicillium sp. and Chaetomium globosum exhibited significant antibacterial activity against 4 of 5 tested pathogens, showing broad spectrum activity. This investigation explains the value of sampling from different tissues of a host plant for the greater species diversity, and additionally, the antibacterial screening of some endophytic fungi from this specific medicinal plant may represent a unique source for many of the useful antibacterial compounds.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ainsworth GC, Sparrow FK, Sussman AS (1973) The fungi: an advanced treatise, vol 4A. Academic, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Anita DD, Sridhar KR, Bhat R (2009) Diversity of fungi associated with mangrove legume Sesbania bispinosa (Jacq.) W. Wight (Fabaceae). Livestock Research for Rural Development 21(5)

  • Barnett HL, Hunter BB (1998) Illustrated Genera of Imperfect Fungi, 4th edn. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul

    Google Scholar 

  • Bérdy J (2005) Bioactive microbial metabolites. J Antibiot 58(1):1–26

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cannon PF, Simons CM (2002) Diversity and host preference of leaf endophytic fungi in the Iwokrama forest reserve, Guyana. Mycologia 94:210–220

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll G (1988) Fungal endophytes in stems and leaves: from latent pathogen to mutualistic symbionts. Ecology 69:2–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll GC, Carroll FE (1978) Studies on the incidence of coniferous needle endophytes in the Pacific Northwest. Can J Bot 56:3034–3043

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clay K (1988) Fungal endophytes of grasses: a defensive mutualism between plants and fungi. Ecology 69:10–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dugasani SL, Balijepalli MK, Pichika MR (2009) Growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis in estrogen receptor-positive and negative human breast carcinoma cells by Adenocalymma alliaceum flowers. Curr Trends Biotechnol 3:278–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis MB (1976) More dematiaceous hyphomycetes. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher PJ, Petrini LE, Sutton BC (1995) A study of fungal endophytes from leaves, stem, and root of Gynoxis oleifolia Muchler (Compositae) from Ecuador. Nova Hedwig 60:589–594

    Google Scholar 

  • Gond SK, Verma VC, Kumar A, Kumar V, Kharwar RN (2007) Study of endophytic fungal community from different parts of Aegle marmelos Correae (Rutaceae) from Varanasi (India). World J Microbiol Biotechnol 23:1371–1375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gond SK, Mishra A, Sharma VK, Verma SK, Kumar J, Kharwar RN, Kumar A (2011) Diversity and antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi isolated from Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, a well-known medicinal plant of India. Mycoscience. doi:10.1007/s10267-011-0146-z

  • Gong LJ, Guo SH (2009) Endophytic fungi from Dracaena cambodiana and Aquilaria sinensis and their antimicrobial activity. Afr J Biotechnol 8(5):731–736

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products from plant-associated microorganisms: distribution, structural diversity, bioactivity and implications of their occurrence. J Nat Prod 69:509–526

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hata K, Futai K (1995) Endophytic fungi associated healthy Pine needle infested by Pine needle gall midge Thecodiplosis japonensis. Can J Botany 73:384–390

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawksworth DL (1987) Observations on three algicolus microfungi. Notes R Bot Gard, Edinb 44:549–560

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawksworth DL (2001) The magnitude of fungal diversity: the 1.5 million species estimate revisited. Mycol Res 105:1422–1432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyde KD, Frohlich J, Taylor JE (1997) Diversity of ascomycetes on palms in the tropics. In: Hyde KD (ed) Biodiversity of tropical microfungi. Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong, pp 141–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Kharwar RN, Verma VC, Kumar A, Gond SK, Harper JK, Hess WM, Ma C, Ren Y, Strobel GA (2009) Javanicin, an Antibacterial Naphthaquinone from an Endophytic Fungus of Neem, Chloridium sp. Curr Microbiol 58:233–238

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kharwar RN, Gond SK, Kumar A, Mishra A (2010) A comparative study of endophytic and epiphytic fungal association with leaf of Eucalyptus citriodora Hook., and their antimicrobial activity. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 26:1941–1948

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kharwar RN, Mishra A, Gond SK, Stierle A, Stierle D (2011) Anticancer compounds derived from fungal endophytes: their importance and future challenges. Nat Prod Rep 28:1208–1228

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li WC, Zhou J, Guo SY, Guo LD (2007) Endophytic fungi associated with lichens in Baihua mountain of Beijing, China. Fungal Divers 25:69–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin X, Lu C, Huang Y, Zheng Z, Su W, Shen Y (2007) Endophytic fungi from a pharmaceutical plant, Camptotheca acuminata: isolation, identification and bioactivity. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 23:1037–1040

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murali TS, Suryanarayanan TS, Venkatesan G (2007) Fungal endophyte communities in two tropical forests of southern India: diversity and host affiliation. Mycol Progr 6:191–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nalini MS, Mahesh B, Tejesvi MV, Prakash HS, Subbaiah V, Kini KR, Shetty HS (2005) Fungal endophytes from the three-leaved caper, Crataeva magna (Lour.) DC. (Capparidaceae). Mycopathologia 159:245–249

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Omacini M, Chaneton EJ, Ghersa CM, Müller CB (2001) Symbiotic fungal endophytes controlinsect host–parasite interaction webs. Nature 409:78–81

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Petrini O, Stone JK, Carroll FE (1982) Endophytic fungi in evergreen shrubs in western Oregon: a preliminary study. Can J Bot 60:789–796

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petrini O, Hake U, Dreyfuss MM (1990) An analysis of fungal communities isolated from fruticose lichens. Mycologia 82:444–451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petrini O, Sieber TN, Toti L, Viret O (1992) Ecology, metabolite production and substrate utilization in endophytic fungi. Nat Toxin 1:185–196

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phongpaichit S, Rungjindamai N, Rukachaisirikul V, Sakayaroj J (2006) Antimicrobial activity in cultures of endophytic fungi isolated from Garcinia species. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol 48:367–372

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raviraja NS (2005) Fungal endophytes in five medicinal plant species from Kudremukh Range, Western Ghats of India. J Basic Microbiol 45:230–235

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Redman RS, Sheehan KB, Stout RG, Rodriguez RJ, Henson JM (2002) Thermotolerance generated by plant/fungal symbiosis. Science 298:1581

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigues KF (1994) The foliar endophytes of the Ama-zonian palm Euterpe oleracea. Mycologia 86:376–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulz B, Wanke U, Draeger S (1993) Endophytes from herbaceous and shrubs: effectiveness of surface sterilization methods. Mycol Res 97:1447–1450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scogin R (1980) Anthocyanins of the Bignoniaceae. Biochem Syst Ecol 8:273–276

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shukla R, Kumar A, Prasad CS, Srivastava B, Dubey NK (2007) Antimycotic and antiaflatoxigenic potency of Adenocalymma alliaceum Miers. on fungi causing biodeterioration of food commodities and raw herbal drugs. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 62(4):348–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strobel GA, Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting for microbial endophytes and their natural products. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 67:491–502

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strobel GA, Dirkse E, Sears J, Markworth C (2001) Volatile antimicrobials from Muscodor albus, a novel endophytic fungus. Microbiology 147:2943–2950

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strobel G, Daisy B, Castillo U, Harper J (2004) Natural products from endophytic microorganisms. J Nat Prod 67:257–268

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strobel GA, Knighton B, Kluck K, Ren Y, Livinghouse T, Griffin M, Spakowicz D, Sears J (2008) The production of myco-diesel hydrocarbons and their derivatives by the endophytic fungus Gliocladium roseum (NRRL 50072). Microbiology 154:3319–3328

    Google Scholar 

  • Tejesvi MV, Mahesh B, Nalini MS, Prakash HS, Kini KR, Subbiah V, Hunthrike SS (2005) Endophytic fungal assemblages from inner bark and twig of Terminalia arjuna W.&A. (Combretaceae). World J Microbiol Biotechnol 21:1535–1540

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tian XL, Cao LX, Tan HM, Zeng QG, Jia YY, Han WQ, Zhou SN (2003) Study on the communities of endophytic fungi and endophytic actinomycetes from rice and their antipathogenic activities in vitro. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 20:303–309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torney F, Trewyn B, Lin V, Wang K (2007) Mesoporous silica nanoparticles deliver DNA and chemicals into plants. Nat Nanotechnol 2:295–300

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Verma VC, Gond SK, Kumar A, Kharwar RN, Strobel GA (2007) Endophytic mycofl ora from leaf, bark, and stem of Azadirachta indica A Juss. from Varanasi India. Microb Ecol 54:119–125

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Verma VC, Kharwar RN, Strobel GA (2009) Chemical and functional diversity of natural products from plant associated endophytic fungi. Nat Prod Commun 4(11):1511–1532

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Verma VC, Kharwar RN, Gange AC (2010) Biosynthesis of antimicrobial silver nanoparticless by the endophytic fungus Aspergillus clavatus. Nanomedicine 5(1):33–40

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Von Arx JA (1978) The genera of fungi sporulating in pure culture. In: Gantner AR, Verlag KG. FL-9490 Vaduz, Liechtenstein

  • Wilson D (1995) Endophyte – the evolution of term, a classification of its use and definition. Oikos 73:274–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to the head (Prof BR Chaudhary), Dept. of Botany, BHU Varanasi for extending necessary facilities. Authors express thank to Prof. Gopal Nath (Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU) for providing human pathogens. SKV, AM, SKG and VKS are thankful to CSIR/UGC, New Delhi for providing fellowship. The financial support to RNK, from DST, New Delhi (FNo. SR/SO/PS-78/09 dated. 10-5-2010) is highly appreciated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mycopathology and Microbial Technology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India

    Ravindra N. Kharwar, Satish K. Verma, Ashish Mishra, Surendra K. Gond, Vijay K. Sharma & Talat Afreen

  2. Department of Botany, Buddha P. G. College, Kushinagar, UP, India

    Anuj Kumar

Authors
  1. Ravindra N. Kharwar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Satish K. Verma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ashish Mishra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Surendra K. Gond
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Vijay K. Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Talat Afreen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Anuj Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ravindra N. Kharwar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kharwar, R.N., Verma, S.K., Mishra, A. et al. Assessment of diversity, distribution and antibacterial activity of endophytic fungi isolated from a medicinal plant Adenocalymma alliaceum Miers. Symbiosis 55, 39–46 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-011-0142-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-011-0142-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation