COMPARATIVE BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF FOUR ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI ISOLATED FROM NIGELLA SATIVA SEEDS

Abstract

In this study, a total of four endophytic fungi have been isolated from Nigella sativa (Ranunculaceae) seeds growing in Egypt. The isolated fungi were identified morphologically and microscopically up to species to be; Alternaria pluriseptata, Aspergillus tubingensis, Aspergillus parasiticus and Eurotium pseudoglaucus. The extracts of the all identified fungi were screened biologically for antileukemic, cytotoxic, antimalarial, antileishmanial, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities as well as for cannabinoid and opioid receptor binding affinities. All the examined fungal extracts showed good antileukemic activities with Ic 50 values ranging from 0.025 to 0.8 µg/ml, while two of them showed cytotoxic activities against Pig kidney epithelial (LLC-PK1) cells. Two fungal extracts exhibited antimalarial activities, three showed antioxidant activities and two exhibited anti-inflammatory activities