Bioactive saponin profiling of endophytic fungi from Asparagus racemosus

Thirty-five distinct endophytic fungi were isolated from the roots of Asparagus racemosus. Five out of 35 isolates were found to be efficient saponins producers and they were identified as Aspergillus terreus (E.F-1), Aspergillus flavus (E.F-7), Penicillium sp. (E.F-12), Talaromyces pinophilus(S-26), and Aspergillus terreus (Y-2) based on 18 sr RNA sequencing. The crude extracts of endophytic fungi were screened using High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for quantitative analysis of saponin. The crude extracts of endophytic fungi were also characterised using FT-IR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The IR spectra of all five endophytic fungi crude extracts revealed the presence of -OH,-CH Alkyl,-CH₃,-C-O-C,-C=C,-C=O stretching, which indicated the presence of saponin. Eight types of saponins recognised by mass spectrometry were Cyclamine saponin, Aspoligonin A, Sarsapogenin, Asparacosin A, Schidigera saponinD5, Aspargoside A, Dioscin, and Protodioscin. Endophytic fungi extracts also exhibited antimicrobial activity and antioxidant activity.