Bioprospecting of Endophytic Fungi from Phyllanthus acidus Linn. Leaf, Identification of Secondary Metabolite: Quercetin

Abstract

Phyllanthus acidus (L.), a medicinal plant, shows numerous pharmacological properties like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic effects, neuroprotective, anti-diarrheal, anti-pyretic, and analgesic and anaesthetic effects which may be attributed to the bioactive compounds produced by Phyllanthus acidus or due to associated endophytic fungi. In the current work, Phyllanthus acidus L. leaf samples were analysed for the presence of endophytic fungi and to produce quercetin, a beneficial chemical, from them using an optimal surface sterilising process and analytical techniques., five fungal endophytes were isolated and they were preliminarily identified by morphology. According to morphological features of isolated endophytes identified as Aspergillus sp. Aff and Chaetomium sp. Aff. Interestingly, only leaves were used to isolate all five fungus, and in response to selected plant samples, the overall colonisation frequency from surface sterilised leaves was found to be 7.5%. Shake flask culture approach used for fermentation followed by extraction and purification process. Analytical and thin-layer chromatography, HPLC of ethyl acetate extract of isolated fungal endophytes PAEF3 showed a distinct phytochemical fingerprinting profile.The fact that quercetin, a key component of Phyllanthus acidus L., is used for a variety of properties like Antiviral, Anticancer, and Antidiabetes, makes this study of practical significance as well.

Keywords: Explant; Surface sterilization; Endophytic fungi; Morphological features; Statistical analysis