Antioxidant And Antibacterial Activities of the Ethyl Acetate Extracts of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Ageratum Conyzoides L.

Abstract

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that endophytic fungi metabolites possess important biological activities. Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae) is an invasive aromatic herb with immense therapeutic importance. In the present study, we aimed to isolate and identify endophytic fungi in the roots, stems, leaves and flowers of Ageratum conyzoides L. and evaluate its antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS+ and FRAP assays), the contents of flavonoids and phenolic and antibacterial activity of their ethyl acetate extracts. Accordingly, a total of 25 endophytic fungi were isolated from Ageratum conyzoides L. and classified into 14 genera based on the Internal transcribed spacer sequence, among which Fusarium sp. (20%) were found to be the dominant groups. All fungal extracts exhibited antioxidant activity, and the extracts of fungi WZ07 exhibited antioxidant activities as well as higher flavonoids and phenolic content in all tests. Moreover, the extracts of fungi WL01 had good antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. We, for the first time, reported the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of endophytic fungi from Ageratum conyzoides L., which may help lay the foundation for developing other medicinal components.