American Journal of Ethnomedicine

Antimicrobial and antimalarial properties of secondary metabolites of an endophytic fungus isolated from Azadirachta indica (meliaceae)

7^th Edition of International Conference on Pharmacognosy and Medicinal Plants
March 11-12, 2019 London, UK

Ogechukwu L. Nwankwo, Felix A. Onyegbule and Festus B. C. Okoye

Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam,Anambra State, Nigeria Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Am J Ethnomed

DOI: 10.21767/2348-9502-C1-009

Abstract

Background information: Natural products of endophytic fungi have generated significant interest in drug discovery programmes due to their immense potential to contribute to the discovery of new biologically active molecules.

Purpose: This study was carried out to investigate the antimicrobial and antimalarial properties of secondary metabolites of an endophytic fungus isolated from leaves of A. indica.

Method: Endophytic fungal isolation, solid sate fermentation in rice medium; and extraction of secondary metabolites were carried out using standard methods. The fungal extract was screened for antimicrobial and antimalarial activities using the agar well diffusion method and Peters’ 4-day suppressive test respectively. The extract was also subjected to HPLC analysis to identify its constituents.

Results: At 1 mg/mL, the fungal extract inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans with inhibition zone diameters of 6, 4, 5, and 4 mm respectively. Also, at doses of 150 and 50 mg/kg/day, the extract displayed a dose dependent suppression of Plasmodium berghei by 89 and 83% respectively. HPLC analysis of the extract revealed the presence of several biologically important compounds including protocatechuic acid, ruspolinone, dimethyl gallate, indole-3-carbaldehyde, 4-methoxy benzaldehyde, 2-carboxymethyl-3-n-hexylmaleic acid anhydride, pestalotioprolide F and p-hydroxy-phenylacetic acid.

Conclusion: The results of this study reveal the potentials possessed by endophytic fungi of A. indica as sources of biologically active compounds with pharmaceutical importance.