BIOACTIVE POTENTIAL OF ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS (SS03) AGAINST CLINICAL ISOLATES

Objective: This study was to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of endophytic fungi isolated from the medicinal plant Moringa oleifera Lam. collected from the Omalur region, Salem district. Methods: The endophytic fungi were isolated from stem, leaves, flowers and calyx of Moringa oleifera by surface sterilization method. The samples were surface sterilized by immersing it in 70% ethanol for 5 seconds followed by 4% sodium hypochlorite for 90 seconds and then a final rinsing in sterile distilled water. Then fungal biomass was extracted for intracellular metabolites by using ethyl acetate as solvent. The crude extract was filtered, and the filtrate was dried under vacuum at 40 °C. The filtrate was analyzed for antimicrobial activity. The fungi which showed the maximum activity was identified and the metabolite present in the ethyl acetate extract was characterized and identified by GC-MS and NMR analysis. Results: The predominant endophytic fungi isolated belongs to the genera of Aspergillus spp, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus terreus and dematiaceous fungi namely Bipolaris spp. From this Aspergillus flavus showed the highest zone of inhibition was observed against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus 22 mm and strain of Candida tropicalis 19 mm. The efficiency of the bioactive compound was identified by GC-MS and NMR analysis and found to be Fenaclon, (R)(-) 14 methyl-8-hexadecyn-1-ol, Trans-β-farnesene (E)-β-farnesene, 9-Octcadecene,1,1, Dimethoxy Conclusion: This study results indicate that the bioactive metabolites produce the endophytic fungi Aspergillus flavus could be promising source as antimicrobial agents.