TARUN KUMAR, PRANAY JAIN*, TAMANNA, RAM KUMAR PUNDIR1 AND RAJESH YOGI
Department of Biotechnology, University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra-136 119 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail: drpranayjain@gmail.com; Mobile: 98133 70929)
(Received: January, 1, 2024; Accepted: February 16, 2024)
ABSTRACT
Ashoka (Saraca asoca) is a conventionally used medicinal plant in India, known to have curative properties. The present study elucidated the in vitro Anti-Candida potential of secondary metabolic compounds extracted from 21 fungal endophytes (SA-A to SA-T) obtained from S. asoca. Crude ethyl acetate extracts (25 mg/ml) were subjected to susceptibility test against Candida albicans (MTCC-227), Candida tropicalis (MTCC-3421), Candida parapsilosis (MTCC-998) and Candida glabrata (MTCC-3814). Ethyl acetate extract of SA-J (Rhizopus sp.) fungal strain was significantly effective against C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata, exhibiting a zone of inhibition of 24.33±0.44, 20.50±0.28, 19.66±0.44 and 22.83±0.60 mm, respectively. Secondary metabolites of SA-F (12±0.00 mm), SA-G (20±0.57 mm), SA-H (12.50±0.28 mm), SA-K (20.50±0.50 mm), SA-L (14.16±0.60 mm), SA-Q (16.66±0.88 mm), SA-R (24±0.76 mm) and SA-T (27.83±0.16 mm) expressed strong inhibition against C. albicans. Bioactive compounds of SA-F (21.66±0.33 mm), SA-G (18.16±0.44 mm) and SA-K (14±0.28 mm) were also active against C. glabrata. Growth of C. tropicalis was inhibited by extracts of SA-B (23.83±0.16 mm) and SA-C (22±0.28 mm). Metabolites of SA-D significantly suppressed the growth of C. tropicalis (22.16±0.44 mm) and C. parapsilosis (24.33±0.44 mm). MIC values ranging 0.048 to 0.097 mg/ml were determined for SA-J by Resazurin assay using 96-well microtiter plate. Physico-chemical parameters like growth medium (potato dextrose broth), temperature (30°C), pH (6), incubation period (8 days), carbon source (dextrose) and nitrogen source (yeast extract) were determined for the most promising Rhizopus sp. SA-J strain in terms of antimicrobial activity.
Key words: Anti-Candida, bioactive compounds, antimicrobial screening, Saraca asoca