Antimicrobial Activities of the Endophytic Fungus, Fusarium equiseti, Isolated from The leaves of Ocimum gratissimum
Nnamdi Markben Adione
Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Ifeanyi Peter Onyeka *
Department of Pharmacognosy and Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Chika Christiana. Abba
Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Nkeoma Nkasi Okoye
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Peter Maduabuchi Eze
Department of Environmental Health sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus Anambra State, Nigeria.
Blessing Ogechukwu. Umeokoli
Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
OgechI Ozioma. Anyanwu
Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Festus Basden Chiedu Okoye
Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Fungal endophytes of medicinal plants origin are gaining increasing interest as sources of novel bioactive agents with therapeutic capacity. This study was designed to identify and evaluate secondary metabolites isolated from Fusarium equiseti; an endophytic fungus isolated from leaves of Ocimum gratissimum for their antimicrobial potentials.
Methods: The isolation and molecular identification of the endophytic fungus, as well as fermentation, and extraction of secondary metabolites were carried out following standard laboratory procedures. The crude extract was partially purified by partitioning into different fractions using column chromatographic techniques and the fractions were tested for antimicrobial activity. The phytoconstituents in the bioactive fractions were detected by dereplication using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography linked with Diode Array Detection (HPLC-DAD).
Results: Our findings showed that fraction 4 (DCM/ Methanol fraction 95:5) exhibited moderate to strong inhibition against the test micro-organisms namely, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans with MIC values in the range of 0.03 to 1 mg/mL but had no inhibition against Aspergillus niger and Salmonella typhi. The compounds detected in the HPLC assay include Phomoxanthone A, Scalarolide, equisetin, epi-equisetin an episomer of equisetin, Naamine A, Carbonarone A, destruxin B, cytosporin G, and WLIP (β-hydroxydecanoyl-Leu1-D Glu-De-Thr-Dval-DLeu3 DSer-Leu-Dser-Ile). These compounds have been reported to possess antimicrobial activity.
Conclusion: The detection of these metabolites further confirms the potential of the endophytic fungus, Fusarium equiseti isolated from leaves of Ocimum gratissimum as a potential source of bioactive molecules for treatment of infectious diseases.
Keywords: Endophytic fungi, Ocimum gratissimum, Fusarium equiseti, secondary metabolites, antimicrobial