Screening for antimicrobial activities of endophytic fungi isolated from ripened fruit of Capsicum Frutescence L.

Abstract

This study is aimed to investigate potential antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi isolated from ripened fruit of Capsicum frutescence L. Endophytic fungi (AVNR-1, AVNR-2, AVNR-3, AVNR-4, AVNR-5) isolated from red fruit of chill were screened for antimicrobial activity. Ethyl acetate extract of five isolates showed antimicrobial activity against two Gram positive and two Gram Negative bacteria. Five endophytic fungi showed variation in their antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pyogenes (ATCC  12344),  Staphylococcus  aureus  (ATCC  25923),  Salmonella  typhimurium (ATCC14028) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) in terms of Zone of inhibition (mm).AVNR-2 isolate showed higher antimicrobial activity followed by AVNR-3,AVNR-1, AVNR-4 and AVNR-5.AVNR-1, AVNR-2, AVNR-3, AVNR-4, AVNR-5 were tentatively identified as Aspergillus melleus AVNR-1 (KM389203) Emericella sp AVNR2 (KM389204), Aspergillus flavus AVNR3 (KM389202),Aspergillus flavus AVNR4 (KM389205),Penicillium capsulatum AVNR5 (KM389207) by 18s rRNA partial sequence and deposited in GENBANK of NCBI with respective accession numbers. Ethyl acetate extracts of five endophytic fungi were screened for antimicrobial against two Gram positive and two Gram Negative bacteria.). Further, investigation of identification of lead molecule by fractionation will be needed for exploration of novel antibiotic principle from endophytic fungi.