Endophytic fungi associated with Sudanese medicinal plants show cytotoxic and antibiotic potential

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Afra Khiralla1, Ietidal E Mohamed2, Tzvetomira Tzanova3

  • 1Université de Lorraine, SRSMC, UMR 7565, BP 70239, F-54506 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France CNRS, SRSMC, UMR 7565, BP 70239, F-54506 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France.

FEMS Microbiology Letters
|May 19, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Endophytic fungi from Sudanese medicinal plants were screened for therapeutic potential. Some fungal extracts showed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and cytotoxicity against human breast cancer cells.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Pharmacology
  • Medicinal Chemistry

Background:

  • Endophytic fungi reside within plant tissues and are a known source of bioactive compounds.
  • Sudanese medicinal plants harbor diverse endophytic fungal communities with unexplored therapeutic potential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and identify endophytic fungi from Sudanese medicinal plants.
  • To evaluate the antibacterial and antiproliferative activities of fungal extracts against human cancer cell lines and bacterial pathogens.

Main Methods:

  • Fungal endophytes were isolated from five Sudanese medicinal plants.
  • Species identification was performed using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing.
  • Ethyl acetate extracts were tested for antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus using broth dilution.
  • Antiproliferative activity was assessed against MCF7, HT29, and HCT116 cancer cell lines using the MTT assay.

Main Results:

  • Byssochlamys spectabilis from Euphorbia prostata exhibited potent cytotoxicity against MCF7 breast cancer cells (IC50 = 1.51 μg/mL).
  • Cladosporium cladosporioides from Vernonia amygdalina showed antiproliferative effects on MCF7 cells (IC50 = 10.5 μg/mL).
  • B. spectabilis and Alternaria sp. extracts demonstrated antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Conclusions:

  • Endophytic fungi associated with Sudanese medicinal plants represent a promising source for novel therapeutic agents.
  • Specific isolates show potential for developing new antibacterial and anticancer drugs.
Keywords:
Sudanese medicinal plantsantibacterial activityendophytic fungihuman cell viability cancer cell line

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