STUDIES ON ENDOPHYTES AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF SAUSSUREA COSTUS (FALC.)

Abstract

Different plant parts (root, stem, leaf) of Saussurea costus were used to isolate and investigate endophytic fungal species in summer, rainy and winter seasons. Total ten species of endophytic fungi belonging to seven genera (Aspergillus, Cunninghamella, Myrothecium, Penicillium, Pythium, Rhizopus and Trichoderma) were isolated from the root, stem and leaf in different seasons. The genus Aspergillus was found to be dominant with three species (A. nustus, A. wentii and A. niger). The genus Rhizopus was represented by two species (R. oryzae and R. nigricans). The genera Cunninghamella, Myrothecium, Penicillium, Trichoderma and Pythium were represented by one species each i.e. Cunninghamella elegans, Myrothecium roridum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Trichoderma viride and Pythium sp. respectively. Antibacterial activity of root of S. costus has been investigated using different solvents (methanol, ethanol and acetone) at different concentrations (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) against three test bacteria namely S. aureus, E. coli and Y. pestis. Root extract of S. costus showed greater antibacterial activity using methanol as solvent followed by acetone and ethanol solvent. In case of methanol extract, maximum inhibition activity was shown against S. aureus and minimum against E. coli. Maximum inhibition was shown against Y. pestis and minimum against E. coli in case of acetone extract whereas ethanol extract exhibited highest inhibitory activity against E. coli and lowest against Y. pestis. Therefore, it is evident that S. costus exhibited antibacterial activity against all the test bacteria in all the solvents used in this study thereby conforming it as a good antibacterial agent for future study.