Evaluation of endophytes isolated from Berberis aristata against microbial pathogens

Abstract

Berberis aristata, an excellent herb mentioned in Ayurveda since ancient newlinetimes, is found in the Himalayan regions of India. Almost every part of the herb is newlineused in treating various diseases since ancient times. The roots and leaves of Berberis newlinearistata have high medicinal value and are used to treat eye-diseases, osteoporosis, newlinediarrhoea, diabetes, cancer, gynaecological disorders, etc. Any organism (bacterial or newlinefungal endophytes) isolated from this species can be of immense interest due to its newlinepotential of producing novel bioactive compounds. Despite its enormous potential, it newlineis not explored extensively for its endophytes and bioactive compounds from isolated newlineendophytes. newlineEndophytes are a group of microorganisms that infect the internal tissues of newlineplant without causing any immediate visible symptom of infection and/or newlinemanifestation of disease and live in mutualistic association with plants for at least a newlinepart of their life cycle. Medicinal plants which are known to be used since centuries as newlinean alternative source of medicine are a valuable source for bio prospecting newlineendophytes. Nevertheless, due to many reasons there is a dire need for novel newlineresources for novel drugs which can be an answer to many deadly diseases. newlineIn this study, we isolated 112 fungal endophytes (from 240 segments of leaves newlineand roots) 52 bacterial endophytes (from 80 segments of leaves and roots). 10 fungal newlineisolates and 6 bacterial isolates were selected for further studies. These 16 isolated newlinewere screened for antimicrobial potential. All the isolated exhibited more or less newlineantimicrobial activity. 2 potential endophytes (BL-5 and BL-13) were selected for newlinesucceeding studies. These endophytes were optimized for growth and production of newlineantimicrobial compound in batch culture system. PDB media supplemented with 0.1g newlinechloramphenicol favoured the growth of BL-5 at temperature of 30o C and incubation newlineperiod of 6-7 days. NB media favoured the growth of BL-13 at temperature of 28oC at newlinepH 7 at inoculums size of 2%. These two isolates were further screen