“Effect of pH on Extracellular Enzyme Activity of Endophytic fungi isolated from Centella asiatica”

Abstract

Endophytic fungus prevalent in medicinal plants was isolated and has demonstrated potent biogenic activity. Endophytic fungi were isolated from the medicinal plant Centella asiatica. Bioactive compounds from the isolates were produced in the in vitro conditions. Further, the secretion of extracellular enzymes by endophytic fungi was investigated. Twelve fungi were isolated from the leaves, shoots, and roots of Centella asiatica, out of which four isolates, namely, Penicillium chrysogenum isolate EF_S2, Trichoderma harzianum isolate EF_R1, Fusarium oxysporum isolate EF_L4, and Phoma sp. Isolate EF_L5 was found to be a potent biogenic agent for the ability to produce bioactive compounds, secondary metabolites, and secretion of extracellular enzymes. The phylogenetic identification of the endophytic fungi was performed, the type of secondary metabolite produced and was phytochemically analyzed the extracellular enzymes were screened. These results revealed that the Centella asiatica-based endophytic fungi can produce extracellular enzymes that have great promise for therapeutic uses in clinical microbiology and usage in biotechnological applications.