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(A PANCHAKARMA TREATMENT CENTRE)
An International Peer Reviewed Open access Monthly E-Journal
ISSN 2277 ndash 4289 wwwgjrmicom
Editor-in-chief
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Advisory Board
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INDEX ndash GJRMI - Volume 3 Issue 6 June 2014
MEDICINAL PLANTS RESEARCH
Micro-biology
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OILS OF ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS FROM
EASTERN ALGERIA
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre Chalard Gilles Figueredo 232ndash242
Ethno-Botany
ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF
EASTERN GHATS SALEM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU INDIA
Rekha R Senthil Kumar S
243ndash251
Review Article
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL
PLANTS
Sharma Rohit
252ndash262
Review Article
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR
BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan
263ndash277
COVER PAGE PHOTOGRAPHY DR HARI VENKATESH K R PLANT ID ndash INFLORESCENCE OF ANKOLA ndash ALANGIUM SALVIIFOLIUM
(LF) WANG OF THE FAMILY CORNACEAE PLACE ndash KOPPA CHIKKAMAGALUR DISTRICT
KARNATAKA INDIA
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OILS OF ROSMARINUS
OFFICINALIS FROM EASTERN ALGERIA
Takia Lograda1
Messaoud Ramdani2 Pierre Chalard
3 Gilles Figueredo
4
1 2
Laboratory of Natural Resource Valorisation SNV Faculty Ferhat Abbas University 19000 Setif Algeria 3Clermont Universiteacute ENSCCF Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand BP 10448 F-63000 CLERMONT-
FERRAND France 3CNRS UMR 6296 ICCF F-63171 Aubiegravere France
4LEXVA Analytique 460 rue du Montant 63110 Beaumont France
Corresponding author Email- tlograda63yahoofr Phone(213)36835894Fax (213) 36937943
Received 05052014 Revised 25052014 Accepted 02062014
ABSTRACT
The hydro-distillation of the essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis gave a viscous liquid with a
whitish colour The average yield of essential oil of the samples is 023 This investigation allows
us to support that R officinalis includes six chemotypes in eastern Algerian The difference of these
chemotypes variants is the concentration of Eucalyptol campene α-pinene and camphor The
antibacterial activity of the essential oils chemotypes was evaluated against nine bacteria
(Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp Serratia liquefaciens ATCC 27592 Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756 and Shigella
sp) The results showed that the essential oils have inhibited growth of bacterial strains The essential
oils chemotypes of Kherrata and the Bibans regions generally exhibit antibacterial activity against
the microorganismsrsquo tested The camphor chemotype with three variants exhibits a moderate
antibacterial activity
KEYWORDS Rosmarinus officinalis Lamiaceae Chemotype antibacterial activity Algeria
Research Article
Cite this article
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre Chalard Gilles Figueredo (2014)
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OILS OF ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS
FROM EASTERN ALGERIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 232ndash242
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis
contains mainly monoterpenes (Angioni et al
2004 Diaz-Maroto et al 2007) Principal
volatile compounds are camphor and
eucalyptol followed by borneol verbenone α-
pinene and camphene (Pino et al 1998
Zaouali et al 2005 Diaz-Maroto et al 2007
Calin-Sanchez et al 2011 Apostolides et al
2013 Lograda et al 2013) The volatile
compounds from rosemary samples could be
grouped in chemical families therefore the
predominant group was monoterpenoids (Bozin
et al 2007 Szumny et al 2010 Calin-
Sanchez et al 2011)
The chemical composition and seasonal
variations in rosemary oil were reported from
southern Spain (Salido et al 2003 Jordan et
al 2011 2013) All the samples studied by
Salido et al (2003) belonging to chemotypes
(α-pinene - 1 8-cineole - camphor) Jordan et
al (2013) identified five chemotypes based on
α-pinene - 1 8-cineole - camphor The
chemical polymorphism of the essential oil of
wild rosemary Spanish populations has been
reported and different chemotypes were defined
according to the geographical area (Varela et
al 2009) In a previous work five chemotypes
distributed in eastern Algeria were identified
(Lograda et al 2013)
Rosmarinus officinalis oil is widely used in
cosmetic food and pharmaceutical industries as
a fragrance component of soaps creams
lotions and perfumes Although it is popular
potential harmful side-effects of this oil have
been described The genotoxicity and
mutagenicity are confirmed by Maistro et al
(2010) The rosemary leaves are used in fried
chicken (Viuda-Martos et al 2010) The
rosemary essential oils have a number of
beneficial properties as natural preservatives in
cosmetics toiletries drugs and food products
(Bakkali et al 2008 Reichling et al 2009)
Sienkiewicz et al 2012)
The anti-inflammatory property of
rosemary extracts was reported by Masuda et
al (2001) Bozin et al (2007) Altinier et al
(2007) Poeckel et al (2008) Viuda-Martos et
al (2010) The interest was also generated due
to the anticarcinogenic activity (Cheung and
Tai 2001) The essential oil of R officinalis
showed antimytotic and antifungal activity
(Yang et al 2011 Mugnaini et al 2012) All
extracts of R officinalis were effective in
inhibiting bacterial growth (Abutbul et al
2004 Bozin et al 2007) Antimicrobial and
antioxidant activities of rosemary are
demonstrated (Faixova and Faix 2008 Kadri et
al 2011)
According to Lopez et al (2005) the oils
from R officinalis have an antibacterial
potential against the Gram-positive and Gram-
negative bacteria The authors presented a
detailed analysis of the tested oils and their
ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria The
rosemary oil has an antibacterial effect on a
number of microorganisms responsible for
respiratory infections (Fabio et al 2007)
Rosemary oil was found to demonstrate
antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli
strains with different patterns of resistance
(Probuseenivasan et al 2006 Sienkiewicz et
al 2013) The essential oil from R tournefortii
exhibited strong antibacterial activity against
Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and Staphylococcus aureus (Bendeddouche et
al 2011) All chemotypes of R officinalis
studied possessed antibacterial activities
(Wang et al 2012)
Though the flowering aerial part of this
plant commonly is used because of its
antiseptic properties heretofore there is no
report that investigated the antimicrobial
activity of this plant in eastern Algeria This
study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial
activities of the chemotype essential oils of
wild plants of R officinalis largely used in
Algeria obtained from samples grown in
Eastern Algeria as well as to validate its
traditionally uses
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Figure 1 Populations of Rosmarinus officinalis studied
MATERIALS amp METHODS
Plant material
Rosmarinus officinalis is collected from
five localities in eastern Algeria Kherrata
(Bedjaia) Boutaleb (Setif) Bibans (Bourdj
Bou-Arriridj) Agmeroual and Nrsquogaous
(Batna) and Boussacircada (MrsquoSila) (Figure 1)
The plant identification was performed by Dr
Lograda Takia The voucher specimens are
preserved in the Herbarium at the Department
of Biology and Ecology Vegetal Setif
University Algeria Aerial parts were collected
during the flowering stage in October 2013
Extraction of the essential oil
The air-dried aerial parts of the six
populations were subjected to hydro-distillation
for 3 h with distilled water using a Clevenger-
type apparatus The oil obtained was collected
and dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and
stored in screw capped glass vials in a
refrigerator at 4ndash5degC prior to the analysis
Antibacterial Activity
The antimicrobial activities of the essential
oils were evaluated against three Gram positive
(Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 MRSA
(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923) and six
Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli
ATCC 25922 Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp Serratia liquefaciens ATCC
27592 Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756
Shigella sp) The bacterial inoculums was
prepared from overnight broth culture in
physiological saline (08 of NaCl) in order to
obtain an optical density ranging from 008ndash01
at 625 nm Muller-Hinton agar (MH agar) and
MH agar supplemented with 5 sheep blood
for fastidious bacteria were poured in Petri
dishes solidified and surface dried before
inoculation Sterile discs (6 mm Φ) were placed
on inoculated agars by test bacteria filled with
10 μl of mother solution and diluted essential
oil (11 12 14 and 18 vv of DMSO)
DMSO was used as negative control Bacterial
growth inhibition was determined as the
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
diameter of the inhibition zones around the
discs All tests were performed in triplicate
Then Petri dishes were incubated at 37degC
during 18 to 24h aerobically After incubation
inhibition zone diameters were measured and
documented
RESULTS
The hydro-distillation of the essential oil of
R officinalis gave a viscous liquid with a
whitish colour The average yield of essential
oil of the samples is 023 the highest rate
was observed in the essential oil of Kherrata
population (035) while the population of
Agmeroual was characterised by the lowest
yield (010) R officinalis of eastern Algeria
includes several chemotypes (Table 1) The
first chemotype to eucalyptol has two variants
the first variant (E-Ca-αP-C) characterizes
Kherrata population the second chemotype (E-
αP-Ca-C) characterizes the Bibans population
The difference of these two chemotype variants
is the concentration of Eucalyptol and camphor
The second chemotype to camphor had three
variants the variant (Ca-C-αP-E) characterized
Boussacircada population Agmeroual population
contained the variant (Ca-αP-C-E) while the
third variant (Ca-αP-E-C) of this chemotype
was found in the region of Ngaous The third
chemotype to α-pinene (αP-Ca-E-C) in R
officinalis of eastern Algeria characterized the
population of Boutaleb
The antibacterial activity of the essential oil
chemotypes was evaluated against nine bacteria
(Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 MRSA
(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923
Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 Pseudomonas
syringae Salmonella sp Serratia liquefaciens
ATCC 27592 Serratia marcescens ATCC
14756 and Shigella sp) The disc diameters of
inhibition zone of essential oils for the
microorganisms tested are grouped in Table 2
The results showed that the essential oils have
inhibited the growth of bacterial strains The
diameters of the inhibition zone are between (0
and 40 mm) these diameters depended on the
sensitivity of the bacteria tested
The essential oil chemotypes of Kherrata
and the Bibans regions generally exhibited
antibacterial activity against the
microorganismsrsquo tested with an inhibition
diameter between 7 and 15 mm The
chemotype of Bibans populations had a high
activity with a dilution frac12 on Staphylococcus
aureus with a diameter of 40 mm (Figure 2)
The camphor chemotype with three variants
exhibits a moderate antibacterial activity with
an inhibition diameter (7ndash20 mm) The
essential oil is active on Enterobacter cloacea
with different dilutions The dilution 12 of
Agmeroual chemotype inhibited Escherichia
coli strongly with a diameter of 20 mm and no
effect was seen on Pseudomonas syringae
(Figure 3)
The chemotype of Boutaleb (α-pinene
variant) had an inhibitory effect with an
inhibition diameter (7ndash15 mm) This
chemotype is active on Enterobacter cloacae
and no activity on Pseudomonas syringae in the
frac14 dilution (Figure 4)
Table 1 Volatile profile of Rosemary essential oils selected by chemotype (Lograda et al 2013)
Populations Kherrata Bibans Agmeroual Ngaous Boussaacircda Boutaleb
Yield (vv)
035 03 02 01 025 015
Chemotypes Eucalyptol Camphor α-pinene
E-Ca-αP-
C
E-αP-Ca-C Ca-αP-C-E Ca-αP-E-C Ca-C-αP-
E
αP-Ca-C-
E Eucalyptol 355 422 54 121 66 88
α-pinene 114 138 169 136 151 252
Camphor 145 91 388 169 427 241
Camphene 80 53 138 37 177 227 Chemotype classification in relation with the chemical compounds found in rosemary samples
E = eucalyptol αP = α-pinene Ca = camphor C = camphene
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Table 2 Inhibition diameter (mm) of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil chemotype
Populations Kherrata Bibans Boussacircada Agmeroual Nrsquogaous Boutaleb
Chemotypes E-Ca-αp-C E-αp-Ca-C Ca-C-αp-E Ca-αp-C-E Ca-αp-E-C αp-Ca-E-C
Bacteria G Dilution Dilution Dilution
frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18
1 14 15 13 11 20 10 11 10 9 11 20 9 8 8 8 12 10 12 10
2 0 12 12 9 15 11 10 10 8 9 11 10 8 8 7 14 13 10 10
3 14 10 9 9 11 15 10 9 7 12 12 8 8 10 12 14 15 8 11
4 10 12 13 12 12 9 10 19 7 10 0 0 0 10 9 9 7 0 11
5 16 9 8 10 13 7 12 10 10 10 7 7 7 10 12 11 10 8 10
6 10 11 8 14 15 9 13 15 10 15 13 10 11 10 8 9 14 13 12
7 12 8 8 10 10 9 8 9 12 10 15 11 10 8 7 7 12 10 13
8 15 11 9 12 40 15 10 10 15 15 8 7 0 15 12 10 10 8 10
9 25 10 9 12 12 13 13 20 15 12 20 12 15 10 13 11 11 11 10
1 Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 2 Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 3 MRSA = Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus 4 Pseudomonas syringae 5 Salmonella sp 6 Serratia liquefaciens ATCC 27592 7
Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756 8 Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 9 Shigella sp
G = Gentamicine E = eucalyptol αP = α-pinene Ca = camphor C = camphene
Figure 2 Antibacterial activity of Kherrata and Bibans chemotypes
G frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18
Dilution
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Inhib
itio
n d
iam
ete
r (m
m)
E-Ca-ap-C
KherrataE-ap-Ca- C
Bibans
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Figure 3 Antibacterial activity of Boussaada Agmeroual and Nrsquogaous Chemotypes
Figure 4 Antibacterial activity of Boutaleb Chemotype
Gentamicine
frac12
frac14
18
frac12
frac14
18
frac12
frac14
18
Dilution
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26In
hib
itio
n d
iam
ete
r (m
m)
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
Ca-C-ap-E Boussacircada Ca-ap-C-E AgmeroualCa-ap-E-C Nrsquogaous
G frac12 frac14 18
Dilution
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
Inh
ibit
ion
dia
met
er (
mm
)
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
ap-Ca-E-C Boutaleb
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
DISCUSSION
Our returns of the essential oil are low
compared to those of the literature This yield is
between 06 and 08 (Atti-Santos et al 2005
Bekkara et al 2007) Ayadi et al (2011) found
a yield (071ndash2) which indicates that the yield
of rosemary varies according to geographical
location
The chemical components of the essential
oil of R officinalis showed that α-pinene
camphene eucalyptol and camphor are the
major products (Jordan et al 2013 Mugnaini
et al 2012 Sienkiewicz et al 2013
Matsuzaki et al 2013 Derwich et al 2011
Fadli et al 2011 Jalali-Heravi et al 2011
Issabeagloo et al 2012 Hussain et al 2011
Mudasir et al 2012 Verma et al 2011 Yang
et al 2011 Sui et al 2012 Aderiana et al
2013 Lograda et al 2013)
Based on the majority of Rosemary
components the authors identified three
chemotypes (Issabeagloo et al 2012 Mudasir
et al 2012 Sui et al 2012 Mugnaini et al
2012 Jordan et al 2013 Sienkiewicz et al
2013 Matsuzaki et al 2013 Aderiana et al
2013) the same chemotypes are found in our
samples with the presence of five variants The
eastern Algeria samples showed an average
antibacterial activity on all tested bacteria the
same observations were mentioned in the
literature (Lopez et al 2005 Probuseenivasan
et al 2006 Fabio et al 2007 Jiang et al
2011 Sienkiewicz et al 2013) This may be
partly due to the fact that the essential oils
contained more oxygenated compounds and
these classes of compounds have been proved
to possess strong antibacterial activities (Deba
et al 2008)
Generally the essential oils of R officinalis
have shown broad spectra of activity against
the tested microorganisms the same findings
were made by Gachkar et al (2007) on some
species of the genus The antimicrobial
property of the essential oil of R officinalis is
attributed to the presence of α-pinene 18-
cineole camphor verbinone and borneol
(Santoyo et al 2005) the quantities of these
compounds were very high in our oils
CONCLUSION
Six variants of Rosemary chemotypes
localized in eastern Algeria were used in the
determination of the antimicrobial activity
against the gram positive and negative bacteria
by the disc diffusion method The essential oil
obtained by hydrodistillation was more active
against microorganisms than the antibiotic
gentamicine The essential oils showed
inhibition zones against all micro-organisms
tested The Results indicate that essential oils
of Rosmarinus officinalis present significant
antimicrobial activity This antimicrobial
activity can be linked to its higher content of
oxygenated compounds This study provides
additional data of antibacterial activity of the
essential oils of R officinalis growing in
Algeria
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The work was supported by Algerian
MESRS and Chemical Laboratory of
carbohydrates Heterocyclic of Clermont
Ferrant France
REFERENCES
Abutbul S Golan-Goldhirsh A Barazani O
Zilberg D (2004) Use of Rosmarinus
officinalis as a treatment against
Streptococcus iniae in tilapia
(Oreochromis sp) Aquaculture 238
97ndash105
Adriana M Ojeda-Sana C M van Baren M A
Elechosa M A Juarez S M (2013) New
insights into antibacterial and
antioxidant activities of rosemary
essential oils and their main
components Food Control 31 189ndash
195
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Altinier G Sosa S Aquino RP Mencherini T
Loggia RD Tubaro A (2007)
Characterization of topical
antiinflammatory compounds in
Rosmarinus officinalis L J Agric
Food Chem 55 1718ndash1723
Angioni A Barra A Cereti E Barile D
Coisson JD Arlorio M Dessi S
Coroneo V Cabras P (2004) Chemical
composition plant genetic differences
antimicrobial and antifungal activity
investigation of the essential of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry 52
3530ndash3535
Apostolides Nelly Arnold Marc El Beyrouthy
Wissal Dhifi Samir Najm Fabrice
Cazier Wafaa Najem Madonna Labaki
Antoine AbouKaiumls (2013) Chemical
Composition of Aerial Parts of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Growing Wild in Lebanon Journal of
Essential Oil Bearing Plants 16(2)
274ndash282
Atti-Santos Ana Cristina Marcelo Rossato
Gabriel Fernandes Pauletti Luciana
Duarte Rota Juarez Ciro Rech Marcia
Regina Pansera Fabiana Agostini
Luciana Atti Serafini and Patrick
Moyna (2005) Physico-chemical
Evaluation of Rosmarinus officinalis L
Essential Oils Brazilian Archives of
Biology and Technology 48(6) 1035ndash
1039
Ayadi S Jerribi C Abderrabba M (2011)
Extraction et eacutetude des huiles
essentielles de Rosmarinus Officinalis
cueillie dans trois reacutegions diffeacuterentes de
la Tunisie Journal de la Socieacuteteacute
Algeacuterienne de Chimie 21(1) 25ndash33
Bekkara F Atik Bousmaha L Taleb Bendiab S
A Boti J B Casanova J (2007)
Composition chimique de lrsquohuile
essentielle de Rosmarinus officinalis L
poussant agrave lrsquoeacutetat spontaneacute et cultiveacute de
la reacutegion de Tlemcen Biologie amp Santeacute
7(1) 6ndash11
Bendeddouche M S Benhassaini H Hazem Z
Romane A (2011) Essential oil analysis
and antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
tournefortii from Algeria Nat Prod
Commun 6 1511ndash1514
Bozin B Mimica-Dukic N Samojlik I Jovin E
(2007) Antimicrobial and antioxidant
properties of rosemary and sage
(Rosmarinus officinalis L and Salvia
officinalis L Lamiaceae) essential oils
Journal of Agricultural and Food
Chemistry 55 7879ndash7885
Calin-Sanchez Angel Antoni Szumny Adam
Figiel Klaudiusz Jałoszynski Maciej
Adamski Angel A Carbonell-
Barrachin (2011) Effects of vacuum
level and microwave power on
rosemary volatile composition during
vacuumndashmicrowave drying Journal of
Food Engineering 103 219ndash227
Cheung S Tai J (2001) Anti-proliferative and
antioxidant properties of rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis Oncol Rep 17
1525ndash1531
Deba F Xuan TD Yasudaa M Tawata S
(2008) Chemical composition and
antioxidant antibacterial and antifungal
activities of the essential oils from
Bidens pilosa Linn var Radiata Food
Control 19 346ndash352
Derwich E Benziane Z Chabir R (2011)
Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of
Morocco Chemical Composition of
essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis
and Juniperus Phoenicea International
Journal of Applied Biology and
Pharmaceutical Technology 2(1) 145ndash
153
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Diaz-Maroto MC Perez-Coello MS Sanchez-
Palomo E Gonzalez-Vinas MA (2007)
Impact of drying and storage time on
sensory characteristics of rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis L) Journal of
Sensory Studies 22 34ndash48
Fabio A Cermelli C Fabio G Nicoletti P
Quaglio P (2007) Screening of the
antibacterial effects of a variety of
essential oils on microorganisms
responsible for respiratory infections
Phytother Res 21 374ndash377
Fadli Mariam Jacqueline Chevalier Asmaa
Saad Nour-Eddine Mezrioui Lahcen
Hassani Jean-Marie Pages (2011)
Essential oils from Moroccan plants as
potential chemosensitisers restoring
antibiotic activity in resistant Gram-
negative bacteria International Journal
of Antimicrobial Agents 38 325ndash330
Faixov ZR Faix S (2008) Biological effects of
Rosmary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
essensial oil (A Review) Folia
Veterinaria 5(3-4) 135ndash139
Gachkar L Yadegari D Rezaei MB
Taghizadeh M Astaneh SA Rasooli I
(2007) Chemical and biological
characteristics of Cuminum cyminum
and Rosmarinus officinalis essential
oils Food Chemistry 102 898ndash904
Hussain Abdullah I Farooq Anwar Poonam S
Nigam Satyajit D Sarker John E
Moore Juluri R Rao Anisha Mazumdar
(2011) Antibacterial activity of some
Lamiaceae essential oils using resazurin
as an indicator of cell growth LWT
Food Science and Technology 44
1199ndash1206
Issabeagloo Eilyad Parviz Kermanizadeh
Mohammad Taghizadieh Reza Forughi
(2012) Antimicrobial effects of
rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L)
essential oils against Staphylococcus
spp African Journal of Microbiology
Research 6(23) 5039ndash5042
Jalali-Heravi Mehdi Rudabeh Sadat Moazeni
Hassan Sereshti (2011) Analysis of
Iranian rosemary essential oil
Application of gas chromatographyndash
mass spectrometry combined with
chemometrics Journal of
Chromatography A 1218 2569ndash2576
Jiang Y Wu N Fu Y-J Wang W Luo M Zhao
CJ Zu YG Liu XL (2011) Chemical
composition and antimicrobial activity
of the essential oil of Rosemary
Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 32 63ndash
68
Jordan MJ Lax V Martinez C Aouissat M
Sotomayor JA 2011 Chemical
intraspecific variability and chemotypes
determination of Rosmarinus officinalis
L in the region of Murcia Acta
Horticulturae 925 109ndash114
Jordan MJ Vanesa Lax Maria C Rota Susana
Loran Joseacute A Sotomayor (2013)
Effect of bioclimatic area on the
essential oil composition and
antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L Food Control 30 463ndash
468
Kadri Adel Zied Zarai Ines BenChobba
Ahmed Beacutekir Neacuteji Gharsallah
Mohamed Damak Radhouane Gdoura
(2011) Chemical constituents and
antioxidant properties of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil cultivated
from the South-Western of Tunisia
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research
5(29) 6502ndash6508
Lopez P Sanchez C Battle R Nerin C (2005)
Soilid- and vapour-phase antimicrobial
activities of six essential oils
Susceptibility of selected foodborne
bacterial and fungal strains Agric Food
Chem 53 6939ndash6946
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Maistro EL Mota SF Lima EB Bernardes
BM Goulart FC (2010) Genotoxicity
and mutagenicity of Rosmarinus
officinalis (Labiatae) essential oil in
mammalian cells in vivo Genetics and
Molecular Research 9(4) 2113ndash2122
Martins MR Tinoco MT Almeida AS Cruz-
Morais J (2012) Chemical
Composition Antioxidant and
Antimicrobial properties of three
Essential oils from Portuguese Flora
Journal of Pharmacognosy 3(1) 39ndash44
Masuda T Inaba Y Takeda Y (2001)
Antioxidant mechanism of carnosic
acid structural identification of two
oxidation products J Agric Food
Chem 49 5560ndash5565
Matsuzaki Yusuke Toshiyuki Tsujisawa
Tatsuji Nishihara Mari Nakamura
Yasuaki Kakinoki (2013) Antifungal
activity of chemotype essential oils
from rosemary against Candida
albicans Open Journal of Stomatology
3 176ndash182
Mudasir A Tantry Syed Shabir Reehana Khan
Afsha Habib Seema Akbar (2012)
Determination of Essential Oil
Composition of Rosmarinus officinalis
Growing as Exotic species in Kashmir
Valley Chemistry of Natural
Compounds 47(6) 1012ndash1014
Mugnaini L Nardoni S Pinto L Pistelli L
Leonardi M Pisseri F Mancianti F
(2012) In vitro and in vivo antifungal
activity of some essential oils against
feline isolates of Microsporum canis
Journal de Mycologie Meacutedicale 22
179ndash184
Pino JA Estrarron M Fuentes V (1998)
Essential Oil of Rosemary (Rosmarinus
Officinalis L) from Cuba J Essent Oil
Res 10 111
Poeckel D Greiner C Verhoff M Rau O
Tausch L Heornig C Steinhilber D
Schubert-Zsilavecz M Werz O (2008)
Carnosic acid and carnosol potently
inhibit human 5-lipoxygenase and
suppress pro-inflammatory responses of
stimulated human polymorphonuclear
leukocytes Biochem Pharmacol 76
91ndash97
Prabuseenivasan S Jayakumar M Ignacimuthu
S (2006) In vitro antibacterial activity
of some plant essential oils BMC
Complement Altern Med 6 39
Reichling J Schnitzler P Suschke U Saller R
(2009) Essential oils of aromatic plants
with antibacterial antifungal antiviral
and cytotoxic properties-An overview
Forsch Komplementmed 16 79ndash90
Salido S Altarejos J Nogueras M Sanchez A
Luque P (2003) Chemical composition
and seasonal variations of rosemary oil
from Southern Spain Journal of
Essentials Oil Research 15 10ndash14
Santoyo S Cavero S Jaime L Ibanez E
Senorans FJ Reglero G (2005)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil obtained via
supercritical fluid extraction Journal of
Food Protection 68(4) 790ndash795
Sienkiewicz M Kowalczyk E Wasiela M
(2012) Recent patents regarding
essential oils and the significance of
their constituents in human health and
treatment Recent Pat Anti Infect Drug
Discov 7 133ndash140
Sienkiewicz Monika Monika Lysakowska
Marta Pastuszka Wojciech Bienias
Edward Kowalczyk (2013) The
Potential of Use Basil and Rosemary
Essential Oils as Effective Antibacterial
Agents Molecules 18 9334ndash9351
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Sui Xiaoyu Tingting Liu Chunhui Ma Lei
Yang Yuangang Zu Lin Zhang Hua
Wang (2012) Microwave irradiation to
pretreat rosemary (Rosmarinus
officinalis L) for maintaining
antioxidant content during storage and
to extract essential oil simultaneously
Food Chemistry 131 1399ndash1405
Szumny Antoni Adam Figiel Antonio
Gutierrez-Ortiz Angel A Carbonell
Barrachina (2010) Composition of
rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus
officinalis) as affected by drying
method Journal of Food Engineering
97 253ndash260
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre
Chalard Gilles Figueredo (2013)
Characteristics of Essential oils of
Rosmarinus officinalis from eastern
Algeria Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med 2(12) 794ndash807
Varela F Navarrete P Cristobal R Fanlo M
Melero R Sotomayor J A (2009)
Variability in the chemical composition
of wild Rosmarinus officinalis L Acta
Horticulturae 826 167ndash174
Verma Ram S Laiqur Rahman Sunita Mishra
Rajesh K V Amit Chauhan Anand
Singh (2011) Changes in essential oil
content and composition of leaf and leaf
powder of Rosmarinus officinalis cv
CIM-Hariyali during storage Maejo Int
J Sci Technol 5(02) 181ndash190
Viuda-Martos M El Gendy A E-N G S
Sendra E Fernandez-Lopez J Abd El
Razik K A Omer E A Jose A Perez-
Alvarez (2010) Chemical composition
and antioxidant and anti-Listeria
activities of essential oils obtained from
some Egyptian plants Journal
Agriculture Food Chemistry 58(16)
9063ndash9070
Wang Wei Nan Li Meng Luo Yuangang Zu
Thomas Efferth (2012) Antibacterial
Activity and Anticancer Activity of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Compared to That of Its Main
Components Molecules 17 2704ndash
2713
Yang Jiang Nan Wu Yu-Jie Fu Wei Wang
Meng Luo Chun-Jian Zhao Yuan-
Gang Zu Xiao-Lei Liu (2011)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of the essential oil
of Rosemary Environmental
Toxicology and Pharmacology 32 63ndash
68
Zaouali Y Messaoud C BenSalah A Boussaid
M (2005) Oil composition variability
among populations in relationship with
their ecological areas in Tunisian
Rosmarinus officinalis L Flavour
Fragrance J 20 512ndash520
Source of Support Algerian MESRS and
Chemical Laboratory of carbohydrates
Heterocyclic of Clermont Ferrant France
Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS
SALEM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU INDIA
Rekha R
1 Senthil Kumar S
2
1 2PG and Research Department of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and Science for Women
(Autonomous) Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal(DT) Tamil Nadu India
Corresponding Author E- Mail rekha87rajagmailcom
Received 26042014 Revised 24052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
An ethno-botanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills Southern
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu India during November 2012ndashMarch 2014 This study
mainly focused on the plants used by the Malayali tribes for various purposes (Construction
materials house hold implements brushing fuel wood agriculture tools religious decorative to
ward off evil spirits) through standardized questionnaires interviews and discussions with very old
and knowledgeable tribals A total of 84 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 42 families were
recorded in the present study These extremely important plants should be taken into account and
steps have to be taken to increase their production for future benefit
KEY WORDS Yercaud hills Malayali tribes Ethno-botany
Research Article
Cite this article
Rekha R Senthil Kumar S (2014) ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS SALEM DISTRICT
TAMIL NADU INDIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 243ndash251
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
Plants are used against a number of
diseases by many indigenous communities in
traditional medicine plants are also used in
building materials fodder weapons and other
commodities of economical importance The
tribal people are economically backward ethnic
groups and constitute separate socio-cultural
groups Many local and indigenous
communities in Asian countries meet their
basic needs from the forest products they
manufacture and sell based on their traditional
knowledge (John Kennedy 2006) Yercaud
hills have been gifted with enormous number
of plant species Tribal people living in
Yercaud hills depend on these plants for their
survival These plants play a vital role in their
life as these people depend on the forest wealth
to meet their needs Their economic condition
is determined by these plants Yercaud hill
range is situated to the north-east part of
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu
India with rich vegetation and it covers an area
of 150 square miles (390 Sq km) It lies
between 11deg45rsquo56rdquo N latitude and 78deg17rsquo55rdquo E
longitude The temperature ranges from 13degC
to 29degC on the peaks and 25degC to 40degC at the
foot hills The average annual rainfall is around
1500ndash1750 mm The indigenous people
inhabiting Yercaud hill are called Malayali the
oldest group of the branch of the ethnic group
in South India Malayali simply means a hill
person an appellation distinguishing them from
the people of plains In physical appearance
they scarcely differ from the people of plains
They speak Tamil dialect of their own They
are supposed to be descendants of
Kanchipuram vellalar They appear to have
migrated from Kanchipuram (a town near
Chennai Tamil Nadu India) between seventh
and eleventh centuries The tribals are mostly
working as casual laborers in coffee estates
They are cultivating food grains fruits and
vegetable (Alagesaboopathi et al 1996)
Malayali tribals use more number of plants for
various purposes like for making construction
materials house hold implements brushing
plants fuel wood agriculture tools religious
decorative to ward off evil spirits etc This
study enumerates such useful plants which are
used by Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills
Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu India
Data Collection
Frequent field surveys were carried out in
Yercaud hills in different seasons during
November 2012ndashMarch 2014 Information on the plants was collected through personal
interview with village headman farmers and
other knowledgeable tribals The interviews
were conducted in the local language (Tamil)
the information includes local names plant
parts used and method of utilization was
gathered from them with regard to each plant
The collected information was recorded on
field note books and plants were identified
using the Flora of the Presidency of Madras
(Gamble 1935) and Flora of Tamil Nadu-
Carnatic (Matthew 1983) Plant specimens
were deposited for future references in the
Botany department Vivekanandha College of
Arts and Sciences for women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal
(DT) Tamil Nadu India
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The present study focused mainly on the
role of non timber forest products in the
livelihood of Malayali tribes of Yercaud hills
Salem district Tamil Nadu India During the
study period 84 plant species belonging to 70
genera and 42 families were identified to be
utilized by Malayali tribes (Table 1) The
reported plants were arranged to their
Botanical Name Vernacular name as recorded
during field work habit and uses Plants
utilized by Malayali tribes can be classified
under various categories like fuel wood plants
house construction and house hold implements
agriculture tools religious importance plants
plants used to ward off evil afflictions hair
care and toothbrush The plants listed mainly
belong to Rubiaceae (6 species) followed by
Fabaceae and Moraceae (5 species)
Mimosaceae Rutaceae and Poaceae (4
species) Combretaceae Anacardiaceae
Euphorbiaceae Apocynaceae (3 species)
Asparagaceae Alangiaceae Asclepidaceae
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Meliaceae Caesalpiniaceae Verbenaceae
Arecaceae Ebenaceae Lamiaceae Tiliaceae
Myrtaceae and Dipterocarpaceae (2 species)
Araceae Acanthaceae Annonaceae
Papaveraceae Bambusaceae Borangiaceae
Cyperaceae Droseraceae Proteaceae
Convolvulaceae Gyrocarpeaceae Ulmaceae
Malvaceae Lythraceae Nyctaginaceae
Moringaceae Salicaceae Araliaceae
Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species) From
the study it was observed that 51 taxa are trees
(60) 23 taxa are herbs (20) and 10 taxa are
shrub (12)
Fire wood plants
One of the most important non timber
forest products for daily life is fuel wood the
only means of energy source of Malayali
tribes The fuel wood species are collected
from the forest near to the hamlets The species
preferred for fire wood to their comfortable
availability and inflammability According to
Malayali tribes which are not considered as a
source of good timber are treated as fire wood
The fire wood utilized by Malayali tribes
belong to 15 species 15 genera and 10
families they are Albizzia lebbeck Benth
Bauhinia tomentosa L Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb Chomelia astiactica OKze
Diospyros montana Roxb Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq Holopetela integrifolia
(Roxb) Planch Mallotus philippensis M Arg
Moringa oleifera Lamk Plectronia didyma
Kurz Salix tetrasperma Roxb Shorea robusta
Roth Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels Terminalia
bellerica Roxb and Zanthoxylum budrunga
Wall
House construction and house hold
implements
Malayali tribes have good Knowledge to
use natural resources specifically plants for
their day-to-day life Malayali tribes use
Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq leaves to make
meal plate Phoenix sylverstris Roxb leaves to
make broom stick Cyperus rotundus L
Ophiuros exalatus OKtz Oryza sativa L
Sorghum vulgare L are used for roofing and
thatching Mature stem of Cassia fistula Linn
Chloroxylon swietenia DC Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl and Terminalia
chebula Retz were used to make pounder
Mature stem of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam is
used to make churn-staff woody stem of
Mangifera indica L is used to make wood
grinder leaves of Cassia fistula Linn is used
for ripening of fruits Gmelina arborea Roxb
mature stem is used as a stick for musical
instrument the fibers from the leaf fibers of
Agave americana L and Agave angustifolia
Haw are used for making coir the culm of
Bambusa arundinacea Willd is used for
making various types of baskets leaves of
Corypha umbracalifer L is used for making
baskets and decoration in ceremonies
Wood forms an important construction
material for houses cattle sheds and temporary
settlements in the area Windows doors and
cots were chiefly made up of Albizia
odoratissima Benth Cleistanthus Collins
Benth Cordia wallichii G Don Dalberiga
lanceolaria L Diospyros edenum JKoeing
Gardenia resinifera Roth Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br Melia composite Willd
Shorea roxburghii Roxb Tectona grandis
Linn Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall and
Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk
Agricultural implements
For making agricultural implements four
species were used such as Chloroxylon
swietenia DC and Bumbusa arundinacea Willd
were used for making handle of axe and woody
stem of Anogeissus latifolia Wall and Tectona
grandis Linn is made in the shape of a harrow
by Malayali tribes
Plants used for Religious purposes
Ceremonial plant use is of principal
importance in daily Malayali tribe life and
many species have a specific ceremonial
significance generally associated with
blessings age-rites and witchcraft Some plants
are used as offerings to god among these tribes
Asclepias curassavica L Cassia montana
Heyne Clerodendrum serratum L and
Plumeria rubra L flowers are used in religious
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
practice to worship God Holarrhena
pubescens (Buch-Ham) WallexGDon
Wrightia tinctoria RBr mature stem are used
in all traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions
Malayali tribes believe that some of the
plants bring good fortune and keep off evil
spirits The exudates of Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb and Semecarpus
anacardium L are used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect them from evils
afflictions brush body with leaves and root of
Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake
bite brush body with leaves of Schefflera
racemosa Harms protect from evils afflictions
roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Aitf is
stitched together and then worn around the hip
to protect from evils afflictions rhizome of the
Acorus calamus Linn is made into pieces and
stitched together and worn around the neck of a
new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions
Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate
sexual desire ie Abrus pulchellus Wall
Alangium hexapetalum Lam Canthium
parviflorum Lam Drosera indica L Evolvulus
alsinoides Linn Ficus bengalensis Linn
Grewia tenax (forssk) fiori Mimosa pudica
Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn Ocimum canum
Sims and Randia dumetorum Lam
Plants used as Toothbrush
Malayali tribals generally use the young
twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn
Azadirachta indica AJuss Ficus glomerata
Roxb Ficus religosa Linn Jatropha curcas L
and Psidium guajava Linn areial root of Ficus
benghalensis Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn
rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula Retz
fruit powder are used as tooth powder
Plants used in Hair Nourishment
Heredity older age lack of nutrition
infections (such as worms lice scabies
dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic
products (soaps shampoos and hair oils) may
cause hair loss dandruff discoloration of hairs
Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant
resources for hair disorders For example
Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a
shampoo seeds of Argemone mexicana root of
Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening
the hairs flowers of Annona squamosa amp fruit
of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff
and kill lice whole plant parts of Andrographis
echioides flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia
calendulacea prevented hair loss
Table 1 List of plants used by Malayali Tribal people for NTFP in Yercaud hills
S
No
Botanical Name Vernacular Name
(Tamil)
Family Parts used Purposes
1 Abrus pulchellus
Wall
Vellaikuntumani Fabaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
2 Acorus calamus
Linn
Vasambu Araceae Rhizome Rhizome made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the neck of new born
baby to get rid from evils
afflictions
3 Agave americana L Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
4 Agave angustifolia
Haw
Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
5 Alangium
hexapetalum Lam
Earualangi Alangiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
6 Alangium salvifolium
Linn
Alangal Alangiaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
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Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
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Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
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Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
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Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
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Seasonal and needle age-dependent
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Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
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Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
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Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
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Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
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Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
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Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
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Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
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Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
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Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
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natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
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INDEX ndash GJRMI - Volume 3 Issue 6 June 2014
MEDICINAL PLANTS RESEARCH
Micro-biology
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OILS OF ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS FROM
EASTERN ALGERIA
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre Chalard Gilles Figueredo 232ndash242
Ethno-Botany
ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF
EASTERN GHATS SALEM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU INDIA
Rekha R Senthil Kumar S
243ndash251
Review Article
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL
PLANTS
Sharma Rohit
252ndash262
Review Article
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR
BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan
263ndash277
COVER PAGE PHOTOGRAPHY DR HARI VENKATESH K R PLANT ID ndash INFLORESCENCE OF ANKOLA ndash ALANGIUM SALVIIFOLIUM
(LF) WANG OF THE FAMILY CORNACEAE PLACE ndash KOPPA CHIKKAMAGALUR DISTRICT
KARNATAKA INDIA
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OILS OF ROSMARINUS
OFFICINALIS FROM EASTERN ALGERIA
Takia Lograda1
Messaoud Ramdani2 Pierre Chalard
3 Gilles Figueredo
4
1 2
Laboratory of Natural Resource Valorisation SNV Faculty Ferhat Abbas University 19000 Setif Algeria 3Clermont Universiteacute ENSCCF Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand BP 10448 F-63000 CLERMONT-
FERRAND France 3CNRS UMR 6296 ICCF F-63171 Aubiegravere France
4LEXVA Analytique 460 rue du Montant 63110 Beaumont France
Corresponding author Email- tlograda63yahoofr Phone(213)36835894Fax (213) 36937943
Received 05052014 Revised 25052014 Accepted 02062014
ABSTRACT
The hydro-distillation of the essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis gave a viscous liquid with a
whitish colour The average yield of essential oil of the samples is 023 This investigation allows
us to support that R officinalis includes six chemotypes in eastern Algerian The difference of these
chemotypes variants is the concentration of Eucalyptol campene α-pinene and camphor The
antibacterial activity of the essential oils chemotypes was evaluated against nine bacteria
(Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp Serratia liquefaciens ATCC 27592 Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756 and Shigella
sp) The results showed that the essential oils have inhibited growth of bacterial strains The essential
oils chemotypes of Kherrata and the Bibans regions generally exhibit antibacterial activity against
the microorganismsrsquo tested The camphor chemotype with three variants exhibits a moderate
antibacterial activity
KEYWORDS Rosmarinus officinalis Lamiaceae Chemotype antibacterial activity Algeria
Research Article
Cite this article
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre Chalard Gilles Figueredo (2014)
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OILS OF ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS
FROM EASTERN ALGERIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 232ndash242
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis
contains mainly monoterpenes (Angioni et al
2004 Diaz-Maroto et al 2007) Principal
volatile compounds are camphor and
eucalyptol followed by borneol verbenone α-
pinene and camphene (Pino et al 1998
Zaouali et al 2005 Diaz-Maroto et al 2007
Calin-Sanchez et al 2011 Apostolides et al
2013 Lograda et al 2013) The volatile
compounds from rosemary samples could be
grouped in chemical families therefore the
predominant group was monoterpenoids (Bozin
et al 2007 Szumny et al 2010 Calin-
Sanchez et al 2011)
The chemical composition and seasonal
variations in rosemary oil were reported from
southern Spain (Salido et al 2003 Jordan et
al 2011 2013) All the samples studied by
Salido et al (2003) belonging to chemotypes
(α-pinene - 1 8-cineole - camphor) Jordan et
al (2013) identified five chemotypes based on
α-pinene - 1 8-cineole - camphor The
chemical polymorphism of the essential oil of
wild rosemary Spanish populations has been
reported and different chemotypes were defined
according to the geographical area (Varela et
al 2009) In a previous work five chemotypes
distributed in eastern Algeria were identified
(Lograda et al 2013)
Rosmarinus officinalis oil is widely used in
cosmetic food and pharmaceutical industries as
a fragrance component of soaps creams
lotions and perfumes Although it is popular
potential harmful side-effects of this oil have
been described The genotoxicity and
mutagenicity are confirmed by Maistro et al
(2010) The rosemary leaves are used in fried
chicken (Viuda-Martos et al 2010) The
rosemary essential oils have a number of
beneficial properties as natural preservatives in
cosmetics toiletries drugs and food products
(Bakkali et al 2008 Reichling et al 2009)
Sienkiewicz et al 2012)
The anti-inflammatory property of
rosemary extracts was reported by Masuda et
al (2001) Bozin et al (2007) Altinier et al
(2007) Poeckel et al (2008) Viuda-Martos et
al (2010) The interest was also generated due
to the anticarcinogenic activity (Cheung and
Tai 2001) The essential oil of R officinalis
showed antimytotic and antifungal activity
(Yang et al 2011 Mugnaini et al 2012) All
extracts of R officinalis were effective in
inhibiting bacterial growth (Abutbul et al
2004 Bozin et al 2007) Antimicrobial and
antioxidant activities of rosemary are
demonstrated (Faixova and Faix 2008 Kadri et
al 2011)
According to Lopez et al (2005) the oils
from R officinalis have an antibacterial
potential against the Gram-positive and Gram-
negative bacteria The authors presented a
detailed analysis of the tested oils and their
ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria The
rosemary oil has an antibacterial effect on a
number of microorganisms responsible for
respiratory infections (Fabio et al 2007)
Rosemary oil was found to demonstrate
antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli
strains with different patterns of resistance
(Probuseenivasan et al 2006 Sienkiewicz et
al 2013) The essential oil from R tournefortii
exhibited strong antibacterial activity against
Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and Staphylococcus aureus (Bendeddouche et
al 2011) All chemotypes of R officinalis
studied possessed antibacterial activities
(Wang et al 2012)
Though the flowering aerial part of this
plant commonly is used because of its
antiseptic properties heretofore there is no
report that investigated the antimicrobial
activity of this plant in eastern Algeria This
study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial
activities of the chemotype essential oils of
wild plants of R officinalis largely used in
Algeria obtained from samples grown in
Eastern Algeria as well as to validate its
traditionally uses
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Figure 1 Populations of Rosmarinus officinalis studied
MATERIALS amp METHODS
Plant material
Rosmarinus officinalis is collected from
five localities in eastern Algeria Kherrata
(Bedjaia) Boutaleb (Setif) Bibans (Bourdj
Bou-Arriridj) Agmeroual and Nrsquogaous
(Batna) and Boussacircada (MrsquoSila) (Figure 1)
The plant identification was performed by Dr
Lograda Takia The voucher specimens are
preserved in the Herbarium at the Department
of Biology and Ecology Vegetal Setif
University Algeria Aerial parts were collected
during the flowering stage in October 2013
Extraction of the essential oil
The air-dried aerial parts of the six
populations were subjected to hydro-distillation
for 3 h with distilled water using a Clevenger-
type apparatus The oil obtained was collected
and dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and
stored in screw capped glass vials in a
refrigerator at 4ndash5degC prior to the analysis
Antibacterial Activity
The antimicrobial activities of the essential
oils were evaluated against three Gram positive
(Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 MRSA
(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923) and six
Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli
ATCC 25922 Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp Serratia liquefaciens ATCC
27592 Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756
Shigella sp) The bacterial inoculums was
prepared from overnight broth culture in
physiological saline (08 of NaCl) in order to
obtain an optical density ranging from 008ndash01
at 625 nm Muller-Hinton agar (MH agar) and
MH agar supplemented with 5 sheep blood
for fastidious bacteria were poured in Petri
dishes solidified and surface dried before
inoculation Sterile discs (6 mm Φ) were placed
on inoculated agars by test bacteria filled with
10 μl of mother solution and diluted essential
oil (11 12 14 and 18 vv of DMSO)
DMSO was used as negative control Bacterial
growth inhibition was determined as the
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
diameter of the inhibition zones around the
discs All tests were performed in triplicate
Then Petri dishes were incubated at 37degC
during 18 to 24h aerobically After incubation
inhibition zone diameters were measured and
documented
RESULTS
The hydro-distillation of the essential oil of
R officinalis gave a viscous liquid with a
whitish colour The average yield of essential
oil of the samples is 023 the highest rate
was observed in the essential oil of Kherrata
population (035) while the population of
Agmeroual was characterised by the lowest
yield (010) R officinalis of eastern Algeria
includes several chemotypes (Table 1) The
first chemotype to eucalyptol has two variants
the first variant (E-Ca-αP-C) characterizes
Kherrata population the second chemotype (E-
αP-Ca-C) characterizes the Bibans population
The difference of these two chemotype variants
is the concentration of Eucalyptol and camphor
The second chemotype to camphor had three
variants the variant (Ca-C-αP-E) characterized
Boussacircada population Agmeroual population
contained the variant (Ca-αP-C-E) while the
third variant (Ca-αP-E-C) of this chemotype
was found in the region of Ngaous The third
chemotype to α-pinene (αP-Ca-E-C) in R
officinalis of eastern Algeria characterized the
population of Boutaleb
The antibacterial activity of the essential oil
chemotypes was evaluated against nine bacteria
(Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 MRSA
(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923
Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 Pseudomonas
syringae Salmonella sp Serratia liquefaciens
ATCC 27592 Serratia marcescens ATCC
14756 and Shigella sp) The disc diameters of
inhibition zone of essential oils for the
microorganisms tested are grouped in Table 2
The results showed that the essential oils have
inhibited the growth of bacterial strains The
diameters of the inhibition zone are between (0
and 40 mm) these diameters depended on the
sensitivity of the bacteria tested
The essential oil chemotypes of Kherrata
and the Bibans regions generally exhibited
antibacterial activity against the
microorganismsrsquo tested with an inhibition
diameter between 7 and 15 mm The
chemotype of Bibans populations had a high
activity with a dilution frac12 on Staphylococcus
aureus with a diameter of 40 mm (Figure 2)
The camphor chemotype with three variants
exhibits a moderate antibacterial activity with
an inhibition diameter (7ndash20 mm) The
essential oil is active on Enterobacter cloacea
with different dilutions The dilution 12 of
Agmeroual chemotype inhibited Escherichia
coli strongly with a diameter of 20 mm and no
effect was seen on Pseudomonas syringae
(Figure 3)
The chemotype of Boutaleb (α-pinene
variant) had an inhibitory effect with an
inhibition diameter (7ndash15 mm) This
chemotype is active on Enterobacter cloacae
and no activity on Pseudomonas syringae in the
frac14 dilution (Figure 4)
Table 1 Volatile profile of Rosemary essential oils selected by chemotype (Lograda et al 2013)
Populations Kherrata Bibans Agmeroual Ngaous Boussaacircda Boutaleb
Yield (vv)
035 03 02 01 025 015
Chemotypes Eucalyptol Camphor α-pinene
E-Ca-αP-
C
E-αP-Ca-C Ca-αP-C-E Ca-αP-E-C Ca-C-αP-
E
αP-Ca-C-
E Eucalyptol 355 422 54 121 66 88
α-pinene 114 138 169 136 151 252
Camphor 145 91 388 169 427 241
Camphene 80 53 138 37 177 227 Chemotype classification in relation with the chemical compounds found in rosemary samples
E = eucalyptol αP = α-pinene Ca = camphor C = camphene
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Table 2 Inhibition diameter (mm) of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil chemotype
Populations Kherrata Bibans Boussacircada Agmeroual Nrsquogaous Boutaleb
Chemotypes E-Ca-αp-C E-αp-Ca-C Ca-C-αp-E Ca-αp-C-E Ca-αp-E-C αp-Ca-E-C
Bacteria G Dilution Dilution Dilution
frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18
1 14 15 13 11 20 10 11 10 9 11 20 9 8 8 8 12 10 12 10
2 0 12 12 9 15 11 10 10 8 9 11 10 8 8 7 14 13 10 10
3 14 10 9 9 11 15 10 9 7 12 12 8 8 10 12 14 15 8 11
4 10 12 13 12 12 9 10 19 7 10 0 0 0 10 9 9 7 0 11
5 16 9 8 10 13 7 12 10 10 10 7 7 7 10 12 11 10 8 10
6 10 11 8 14 15 9 13 15 10 15 13 10 11 10 8 9 14 13 12
7 12 8 8 10 10 9 8 9 12 10 15 11 10 8 7 7 12 10 13
8 15 11 9 12 40 15 10 10 15 15 8 7 0 15 12 10 10 8 10
9 25 10 9 12 12 13 13 20 15 12 20 12 15 10 13 11 11 11 10
1 Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 2 Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 3 MRSA = Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus 4 Pseudomonas syringae 5 Salmonella sp 6 Serratia liquefaciens ATCC 27592 7
Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756 8 Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 9 Shigella sp
G = Gentamicine E = eucalyptol αP = α-pinene Ca = camphor C = camphene
Figure 2 Antibacterial activity of Kherrata and Bibans chemotypes
G frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18
Dilution
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Inhib
itio
n d
iam
ete
r (m
m)
E-Ca-ap-C
KherrataE-ap-Ca- C
Bibans
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Figure 3 Antibacterial activity of Boussaada Agmeroual and Nrsquogaous Chemotypes
Figure 4 Antibacterial activity of Boutaleb Chemotype
Gentamicine
frac12
frac14
18
frac12
frac14
18
frac12
frac14
18
Dilution
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26In
hib
itio
n d
iam
ete
r (m
m)
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
Ca-C-ap-E Boussacircada Ca-ap-C-E AgmeroualCa-ap-E-C Nrsquogaous
G frac12 frac14 18
Dilution
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
Inh
ibit
ion
dia
met
er (
mm
)
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
ap-Ca-E-C Boutaleb
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
DISCUSSION
Our returns of the essential oil are low
compared to those of the literature This yield is
between 06 and 08 (Atti-Santos et al 2005
Bekkara et al 2007) Ayadi et al (2011) found
a yield (071ndash2) which indicates that the yield
of rosemary varies according to geographical
location
The chemical components of the essential
oil of R officinalis showed that α-pinene
camphene eucalyptol and camphor are the
major products (Jordan et al 2013 Mugnaini
et al 2012 Sienkiewicz et al 2013
Matsuzaki et al 2013 Derwich et al 2011
Fadli et al 2011 Jalali-Heravi et al 2011
Issabeagloo et al 2012 Hussain et al 2011
Mudasir et al 2012 Verma et al 2011 Yang
et al 2011 Sui et al 2012 Aderiana et al
2013 Lograda et al 2013)
Based on the majority of Rosemary
components the authors identified three
chemotypes (Issabeagloo et al 2012 Mudasir
et al 2012 Sui et al 2012 Mugnaini et al
2012 Jordan et al 2013 Sienkiewicz et al
2013 Matsuzaki et al 2013 Aderiana et al
2013) the same chemotypes are found in our
samples with the presence of five variants The
eastern Algeria samples showed an average
antibacterial activity on all tested bacteria the
same observations were mentioned in the
literature (Lopez et al 2005 Probuseenivasan
et al 2006 Fabio et al 2007 Jiang et al
2011 Sienkiewicz et al 2013) This may be
partly due to the fact that the essential oils
contained more oxygenated compounds and
these classes of compounds have been proved
to possess strong antibacterial activities (Deba
et al 2008)
Generally the essential oils of R officinalis
have shown broad spectra of activity against
the tested microorganisms the same findings
were made by Gachkar et al (2007) on some
species of the genus The antimicrobial
property of the essential oil of R officinalis is
attributed to the presence of α-pinene 18-
cineole camphor verbinone and borneol
(Santoyo et al 2005) the quantities of these
compounds were very high in our oils
CONCLUSION
Six variants of Rosemary chemotypes
localized in eastern Algeria were used in the
determination of the antimicrobial activity
against the gram positive and negative bacteria
by the disc diffusion method The essential oil
obtained by hydrodistillation was more active
against microorganisms than the antibiotic
gentamicine The essential oils showed
inhibition zones against all micro-organisms
tested The Results indicate that essential oils
of Rosmarinus officinalis present significant
antimicrobial activity This antimicrobial
activity can be linked to its higher content of
oxygenated compounds This study provides
additional data of antibacterial activity of the
essential oils of R officinalis growing in
Algeria
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The work was supported by Algerian
MESRS and Chemical Laboratory of
carbohydrates Heterocyclic of Clermont
Ferrant France
REFERENCES
Abutbul S Golan-Goldhirsh A Barazani O
Zilberg D (2004) Use of Rosmarinus
officinalis as a treatment against
Streptococcus iniae in tilapia
(Oreochromis sp) Aquaculture 238
97ndash105
Adriana M Ojeda-Sana C M van Baren M A
Elechosa M A Juarez S M (2013) New
insights into antibacterial and
antioxidant activities of rosemary
essential oils and their main
components Food Control 31 189ndash
195
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Altinier G Sosa S Aquino RP Mencherini T
Loggia RD Tubaro A (2007)
Characterization of topical
antiinflammatory compounds in
Rosmarinus officinalis L J Agric
Food Chem 55 1718ndash1723
Angioni A Barra A Cereti E Barile D
Coisson JD Arlorio M Dessi S
Coroneo V Cabras P (2004) Chemical
composition plant genetic differences
antimicrobial and antifungal activity
investigation of the essential of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry 52
3530ndash3535
Apostolides Nelly Arnold Marc El Beyrouthy
Wissal Dhifi Samir Najm Fabrice
Cazier Wafaa Najem Madonna Labaki
Antoine AbouKaiumls (2013) Chemical
Composition of Aerial Parts of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Growing Wild in Lebanon Journal of
Essential Oil Bearing Plants 16(2)
274ndash282
Atti-Santos Ana Cristina Marcelo Rossato
Gabriel Fernandes Pauletti Luciana
Duarte Rota Juarez Ciro Rech Marcia
Regina Pansera Fabiana Agostini
Luciana Atti Serafini and Patrick
Moyna (2005) Physico-chemical
Evaluation of Rosmarinus officinalis L
Essential Oils Brazilian Archives of
Biology and Technology 48(6) 1035ndash
1039
Ayadi S Jerribi C Abderrabba M (2011)
Extraction et eacutetude des huiles
essentielles de Rosmarinus Officinalis
cueillie dans trois reacutegions diffeacuterentes de
la Tunisie Journal de la Socieacuteteacute
Algeacuterienne de Chimie 21(1) 25ndash33
Bekkara F Atik Bousmaha L Taleb Bendiab S
A Boti J B Casanova J (2007)
Composition chimique de lrsquohuile
essentielle de Rosmarinus officinalis L
poussant agrave lrsquoeacutetat spontaneacute et cultiveacute de
la reacutegion de Tlemcen Biologie amp Santeacute
7(1) 6ndash11
Bendeddouche M S Benhassaini H Hazem Z
Romane A (2011) Essential oil analysis
and antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
tournefortii from Algeria Nat Prod
Commun 6 1511ndash1514
Bozin B Mimica-Dukic N Samojlik I Jovin E
(2007) Antimicrobial and antioxidant
properties of rosemary and sage
(Rosmarinus officinalis L and Salvia
officinalis L Lamiaceae) essential oils
Journal of Agricultural and Food
Chemistry 55 7879ndash7885
Calin-Sanchez Angel Antoni Szumny Adam
Figiel Klaudiusz Jałoszynski Maciej
Adamski Angel A Carbonell-
Barrachin (2011) Effects of vacuum
level and microwave power on
rosemary volatile composition during
vacuumndashmicrowave drying Journal of
Food Engineering 103 219ndash227
Cheung S Tai J (2001) Anti-proliferative and
antioxidant properties of rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis Oncol Rep 17
1525ndash1531
Deba F Xuan TD Yasudaa M Tawata S
(2008) Chemical composition and
antioxidant antibacterial and antifungal
activities of the essential oils from
Bidens pilosa Linn var Radiata Food
Control 19 346ndash352
Derwich E Benziane Z Chabir R (2011)
Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of
Morocco Chemical Composition of
essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis
and Juniperus Phoenicea International
Journal of Applied Biology and
Pharmaceutical Technology 2(1) 145ndash
153
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Diaz-Maroto MC Perez-Coello MS Sanchez-
Palomo E Gonzalez-Vinas MA (2007)
Impact of drying and storage time on
sensory characteristics of rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis L) Journal of
Sensory Studies 22 34ndash48
Fabio A Cermelli C Fabio G Nicoletti P
Quaglio P (2007) Screening of the
antibacterial effects of a variety of
essential oils on microorganisms
responsible for respiratory infections
Phytother Res 21 374ndash377
Fadli Mariam Jacqueline Chevalier Asmaa
Saad Nour-Eddine Mezrioui Lahcen
Hassani Jean-Marie Pages (2011)
Essential oils from Moroccan plants as
potential chemosensitisers restoring
antibiotic activity in resistant Gram-
negative bacteria International Journal
of Antimicrobial Agents 38 325ndash330
Faixov ZR Faix S (2008) Biological effects of
Rosmary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
essensial oil (A Review) Folia
Veterinaria 5(3-4) 135ndash139
Gachkar L Yadegari D Rezaei MB
Taghizadeh M Astaneh SA Rasooli I
(2007) Chemical and biological
characteristics of Cuminum cyminum
and Rosmarinus officinalis essential
oils Food Chemistry 102 898ndash904
Hussain Abdullah I Farooq Anwar Poonam S
Nigam Satyajit D Sarker John E
Moore Juluri R Rao Anisha Mazumdar
(2011) Antibacterial activity of some
Lamiaceae essential oils using resazurin
as an indicator of cell growth LWT
Food Science and Technology 44
1199ndash1206
Issabeagloo Eilyad Parviz Kermanizadeh
Mohammad Taghizadieh Reza Forughi
(2012) Antimicrobial effects of
rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L)
essential oils against Staphylococcus
spp African Journal of Microbiology
Research 6(23) 5039ndash5042
Jalali-Heravi Mehdi Rudabeh Sadat Moazeni
Hassan Sereshti (2011) Analysis of
Iranian rosemary essential oil
Application of gas chromatographyndash
mass spectrometry combined with
chemometrics Journal of
Chromatography A 1218 2569ndash2576
Jiang Y Wu N Fu Y-J Wang W Luo M Zhao
CJ Zu YG Liu XL (2011) Chemical
composition and antimicrobial activity
of the essential oil of Rosemary
Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 32 63ndash
68
Jordan MJ Lax V Martinez C Aouissat M
Sotomayor JA 2011 Chemical
intraspecific variability and chemotypes
determination of Rosmarinus officinalis
L in the region of Murcia Acta
Horticulturae 925 109ndash114
Jordan MJ Vanesa Lax Maria C Rota Susana
Loran Joseacute A Sotomayor (2013)
Effect of bioclimatic area on the
essential oil composition and
antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L Food Control 30 463ndash
468
Kadri Adel Zied Zarai Ines BenChobba
Ahmed Beacutekir Neacuteji Gharsallah
Mohamed Damak Radhouane Gdoura
(2011) Chemical constituents and
antioxidant properties of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil cultivated
from the South-Western of Tunisia
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research
5(29) 6502ndash6508
Lopez P Sanchez C Battle R Nerin C (2005)
Soilid- and vapour-phase antimicrobial
activities of six essential oils
Susceptibility of selected foodborne
bacterial and fungal strains Agric Food
Chem 53 6939ndash6946
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Maistro EL Mota SF Lima EB Bernardes
BM Goulart FC (2010) Genotoxicity
and mutagenicity of Rosmarinus
officinalis (Labiatae) essential oil in
mammalian cells in vivo Genetics and
Molecular Research 9(4) 2113ndash2122
Martins MR Tinoco MT Almeida AS Cruz-
Morais J (2012) Chemical
Composition Antioxidant and
Antimicrobial properties of three
Essential oils from Portuguese Flora
Journal of Pharmacognosy 3(1) 39ndash44
Masuda T Inaba Y Takeda Y (2001)
Antioxidant mechanism of carnosic
acid structural identification of two
oxidation products J Agric Food
Chem 49 5560ndash5565
Matsuzaki Yusuke Toshiyuki Tsujisawa
Tatsuji Nishihara Mari Nakamura
Yasuaki Kakinoki (2013) Antifungal
activity of chemotype essential oils
from rosemary against Candida
albicans Open Journal of Stomatology
3 176ndash182
Mudasir A Tantry Syed Shabir Reehana Khan
Afsha Habib Seema Akbar (2012)
Determination of Essential Oil
Composition of Rosmarinus officinalis
Growing as Exotic species in Kashmir
Valley Chemistry of Natural
Compounds 47(6) 1012ndash1014
Mugnaini L Nardoni S Pinto L Pistelli L
Leonardi M Pisseri F Mancianti F
(2012) In vitro and in vivo antifungal
activity of some essential oils against
feline isolates of Microsporum canis
Journal de Mycologie Meacutedicale 22
179ndash184
Pino JA Estrarron M Fuentes V (1998)
Essential Oil of Rosemary (Rosmarinus
Officinalis L) from Cuba J Essent Oil
Res 10 111
Poeckel D Greiner C Verhoff M Rau O
Tausch L Heornig C Steinhilber D
Schubert-Zsilavecz M Werz O (2008)
Carnosic acid and carnosol potently
inhibit human 5-lipoxygenase and
suppress pro-inflammatory responses of
stimulated human polymorphonuclear
leukocytes Biochem Pharmacol 76
91ndash97
Prabuseenivasan S Jayakumar M Ignacimuthu
S (2006) In vitro antibacterial activity
of some plant essential oils BMC
Complement Altern Med 6 39
Reichling J Schnitzler P Suschke U Saller R
(2009) Essential oils of aromatic plants
with antibacterial antifungal antiviral
and cytotoxic properties-An overview
Forsch Komplementmed 16 79ndash90
Salido S Altarejos J Nogueras M Sanchez A
Luque P (2003) Chemical composition
and seasonal variations of rosemary oil
from Southern Spain Journal of
Essentials Oil Research 15 10ndash14
Santoyo S Cavero S Jaime L Ibanez E
Senorans FJ Reglero G (2005)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil obtained via
supercritical fluid extraction Journal of
Food Protection 68(4) 790ndash795
Sienkiewicz M Kowalczyk E Wasiela M
(2012) Recent patents regarding
essential oils and the significance of
their constituents in human health and
treatment Recent Pat Anti Infect Drug
Discov 7 133ndash140
Sienkiewicz Monika Monika Lysakowska
Marta Pastuszka Wojciech Bienias
Edward Kowalczyk (2013) The
Potential of Use Basil and Rosemary
Essential Oils as Effective Antibacterial
Agents Molecules 18 9334ndash9351
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Sui Xiaoyu Tingting Liu Chunhui Ma Lei
Yang Yuangang Zu Lin Zhang Hua
Wang (2012) Microwave irradiation to
pretreat rosemary (Rosmarinus
officinalis L) for maintaining
antioxidant content during storage and
to extract essential oil simultaneously
Food Chemistry 131 1399ndash1405
Szumny Antoni Adam Figiel Antonio
Gutierrez-Ortiz Angel A Carbonell
Barrachina (2010) Composition of
rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus
officinalis) as affected by drying
method Journal of Food Engineering
97 253ndash260
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre
Chalard Gilles Figueredo (2013)
Characteristics of Essential oils of
Rosmarinus officinalis from eastern
Algeria Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med 2(12) 794ndash807
Varela F Navarrete P Cristobal R Fanlo M
Melero R Sotomayor J A (2009)
Variability in the chemical composition
of wild Rosmarinus officinalis L Acta
Horticulturae 826 167ndash174
Verma Ram S Laiqur Rahman Sunita Mishra
Rajesh K V Amit Chauhan Anand
Singh (2011) Changes in essential oil
content and composition of leaf and leaf
powder of Rosmarinus officinalis cv
CIM-Hariyali during storage Maejo Int
J Sci Technol 5(02) 181ndash190
Viuda-Martos M El Gendy A E-N G S
Sendra E Fernandez-Lopez J Abd El
Razik K A Omer E A Jose A Perez-
Alvarez (2010) Chemical composition
and antioxidant and anti-Listeria
activities of essential oils obtained from
some Egyptian plants Journal
Agriculture Food Chemistry 58(16)
9063ndash9070
Wang Wei Nan Li Meng Luo Yuangang Zu
Thomas Efferth (2012) Antibacterial
Activity and Anticancer Activity of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Compared to That of Its Main
Components Molecules 17 2704ndash
2713
Yang Jiang Nan Wu Yu-Jie Fu Wei Wang
Meng Luo Chun-Jian Zhao Yuan-
Gang Zu Xiao-Lei Liu (2011)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of the essential oil
of Rosemary Environmental
Toxicology and Pharmacology 32 63ndash
68
Zaouali Y Messaoud C BenSalah A Boussaid
M (2005) Oil composition variability
among populations in relationship with
their ecological areas in Tunisian
Rosmarinus officinalis L Flavour
Fragrance J 20 512ndash520
Source of Support Algerian MESRS and
Chemical Laboratory of carbohydrates
Heterocyclic of Clermont Ferrant France
Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS
SALEM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU INDIA
Rekha R
1 Senthil Kumar S
2
1 2PG and Research Department of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and Science for Women
(Autonomous) Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal(DT) Tamil Nadu India
Corresponding Author E- Mail rekha87rajagmailcom
Received 26042014 Revised 24052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
An ethno-botanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills Southern
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu India during November 2012ndashMarch 2014 This study
mainly focused on the plants used by the Malayali tribes for various purposes (Construction
materials house hold implements brushing fuel wood agriculture tools religious decorative to
ward off evil spirits) through standardized questionnaires interviews and discussions with very old
and knowledgeable tribals A total of 84 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 42 families were
recorded in the present study These extremely important plants should be taken into account and
steps have to be taken to increase their production for future benefit
KEY WORDS Yercaud hills Malayali tribes Ethno-botany
Research Article
Cite this article
Rekha R Senthil Kumar S (2014) ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS SALEM DISTRICT
TAMIL NADU INDIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 243ndash251
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
Plants are used against a number of
diseases by many indigenous communities in
traditional medicine plants are also used in
building materials fodder weapons and other
commodities of economical importance The
tribal people are economically backward ethnic
groups and constitute separate socio-cultural
groups Many local and indigenous
communities in Asian countries meet their
basic needs from the forest products they
manufacture and sell based on their traditional
knowledge (John Kennedy 2006) Yercaud
hills have been gifted with enormous number
of plant species Tribal people living in
Yercaud hills depend on these plants for their
survival These plants play a vital role in their
life as these people depend on the forest wealth
to meet their needs Their economic condition
is determined by these plants Yercaud hill
range is situated to the north-east part of
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu
India with rich vegetation and it covers an area
of 150 square miles (390 Sq km) It lies
between 11deg45rsquo56rdquo N latitude and 78deg17rsquo55rdquo E
longitude The temperature ranges from 13degC
to 29degC on the peaks and 25degC to 40degC at the
foot hills The average annual rainfall is around
1500ndash1750 mm The indigenous people
inhabiting Yercaud hill are called Malayali the
oldest group of the branch of the ethnic group
in South India Malayali simply means a hill
person an appellation distinguishing them from
the people of plains In physical appearance
they scarcely differ from the people of plains
They speak Tamil dialect of their own They
are supposed to be descendants of
Kanchipuram vellalar They appear to have
migrated from Kanchipuram (a town near
Chennai Tamil Nadu India) between seventh
and eleventh centuries The tribals are mostly
working as casual laborers in coffee estates
They are cultivating food grains fruits and
vegetable (Alagesaboopathi et al 1996)
Malayali tribals use more number of plants for
various purposes like for making construction
materials house hold implements brushing
plants fuel wood agriculture tools religious
decorative to ward off evil spirits etc This
study enumerates such useful plants which are
used by Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills
Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu India
Data Collection
Frequent field surveys were carried out in
Yercaud hills in different seasons during
November 2012ndashMarch 2014 Information on the plants was collected through personal
interview with village headman farmers and
other knowledgeable tribals The interviews
were conducted in the local language (Tamil)
the information includes local names plant
parts used and method of utilization was
gathered from them with regard to each plant
The collected information was recorded on
field note books and plants were identified
using the Flora of the Presidency of Madras
(Gamble 1935) and Flora of Tamil Nadu-
Carnatic (Matthew 1983) Plant specimens
were deposited for future references in the
Botany department Vivekanandha College of
Arts and Sciences for women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal
(DT) Tamil Nadu India
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The present study focused mainly on the
role of non timber forest products in the
livelihood of Malayali tribes of Yercaud hills
Salem district Tamil Nadu India During the
study period 84 plant species belonging to 70
genera and 42 families were identified to be
utilized by Malayali tribes (Table 1) The
reported plants were arranged to their
Botanical Name Vernacular name as recorded
during field work habit and uses Plants
utilized by Malayali tribes can be classified
under various categories like fuel wood plants
house construction and house hold implements
agriculture tools religious importance plants
plants used to ward off evil afflictions hair
care and toothbrush The plants listed mainly
belong to Rubiaceae (6 species) followed by
Fabaceae and Moraceae (5 species)
Mimosaceae Rutaceae and Poaceae (4
species) Combretaceae Anacardiaceae
Euphorbiaceae Apocynaceae (3 species)
Asparagaceae Alangiaceae Asclepidaceae
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Meliaceae Caesalpiniaceae Verbenaceae
Arecaceae Ebenaceae Lamiaceae Tiliaceae
Myrtaceae and Dipterocarpaceae (2 species)
Araceae Acanthaceae Annonaceae
Papaveraceae Bambusaceae Borangiaceae
Cyperaceae Droseraceae Proteaceae
Convolvulaceae Gyrocarpeaceae Ulmaceae
Malvaceae Lythraceae Nyctaginaceae
Moringaceae Salicaceae Araliaceae
Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species) From
the study it was observed that 51 taxa are trees
(60) 23 taxa are herbs (20) and 10 taxa are
shrub (12)
Fire wood plants
One of the most important non timber
forest products for daily life is fuel wood the
only means of energy source of Malayali
tribes The fuel wood species are collected
from the forest near to the hamlets The species
preferred for fire wood to their comfortable
availability and inflammability According to
Malayali tribes which are not considered as a
source of good timber are treated as fire wood
The fire wood utilized by Malayali tribes
belong to 15 species 15 genera and 10
families they are Albizzia lebbeck Benth
Bauhinia tomentosa L Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb Chomelia astiactica OKze
Diospyros montana Roxb Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq Holopetela integrifolia
(Roxb) Planch Mallotus philippensis M Arg
Moringa oleifera Lamk Plectronia didyma
Kurz Salix tetrasperma Roxb Shorea robusta
Roth Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels Terminalia
bellerica Roxb and Zanthoxylum budrunga
Wall
House construction and house hold
implements
Malayali tribes have good Knowledge to
use natural resources specifically plants for
their day-to-day life Malayali tribes use
Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq leaves to make
meal plate Phoenix sylverstris Roxb leaves to
make broom stick Cyperus rotundus L
Ophiuros exalatus OKtz Oryza sativa L
Sorghum vulgare L are used for roofing and
thatching Mature stem of Cassia fistula Linn
Chloroxylon swietenia DC Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl and Terminalia
chebula Retz were used to make pounder
Mature stem of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam is
used to make churn-staff woody stem of
Mangifera indica L is used to make wood
grinder leaves of Cassia fistula Linn is used
for ripening of fruits Gmelina arborea Roxb
mature stem is used as a stick for musical
instrument the fibers from the leaf fibers of
Agave americana L and Agave angustifolia
Haw are used for making coir the culm of
Bambusa arundinacea Willd is used for
making various types of baskets leaves of
Corypha umbracalifer L is used for making
baskets and decoration in ceremonies
Wood forms an important construction
material for houses cattle sheds and temporary
settlements in the area Windows doors and
cots were chiefly made up of Albizia
odoratissima Benth Cleistanthus Collins
Benth Cordia wallichii G Don Dalberiga
lanceolaria L Diospyros edenum JKoeing
Gardenia resinifera Roth Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br Melia composite Willd
Shorea roxburghii Roxb Tectona grandis
Linn Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall and
Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk
Agricultural implements
For making agricultural implements four
species were used such as Chloroxylon
swietenia DC and Bumbusa arundinacea Willd
were used for making handle of axe and woody
stem of Anogeissus latifolia Wall and Tectona
grandis Linn is made in the shape of a harrow
by Malayali tribes
Plants used for Religious purposes
Ceremonial plant use is of principal
importance in daily Malayali tribe life and
many species have a specific ceremonial
significance generally associated with
blessings age-rites and witchcraft Some plants
are used as offerings to god among these tribes
Asclepias curassavica L Cassia montana
Heyne Clerodendrum serratum L and
Plumeria rubra L flowers are used in religious
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
practice to worship God Holarrhena
pubescens (Buch-Ham) WallexGDon
Wrightia tinctoria RBr mature stem are used
in all traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions
Malayali tribes believe that some of the
plants bring good fortune and keep off evil
spirits The exudates of Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb and Semecarpus
anacardium L are used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect them from evils
afflictions brush body with leaves and root of
Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake
bite brush body with leaves of Schefflera
racemosa Harms protect from evils afflictions
roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Aitf is
stitched together and then worn around the hip
to protect from evils afflictions rhizome of the
Acorus calamus Linn is made into pieces and
stitched together and worn around the neck of a
new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions
Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate
sexual desire ie Abrus pulchellus Wall
Alangium hexapetalum Lam Canthium
parviflorum Lam Drosera indica L Evolvulus
alsinoides Linn Ficus bengalensis Linn
Grewia tenax (forssk) fiori Mimosa pudica
Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn Ocimum canum
Sims and Randia dumetorum Lam
Plants used as Toothbrush
Malayali tribals generally use the young
twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn
Azadirachta indica AJuss Ficus glomerata
Roxb Ficus religosa Linn Jatropha curcas L
and Psidium guajava Linn areial root of Ficus
benghalensis Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn
rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula Retz
fruit powder are used as tooth powder
Plants used in Hair Nourishment
Heredity older age lack of nutrition
infections (such as worms lice scabies
dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic
products (soaps shampoos and hair oils) may
cause hair loss dandruff discoloration of hairs
Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant
resources for hair disorders For example
Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a
shampoo seeds of Argemone mexicana root of
Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening
the hairs flowers of Annona squamosa amp fruit
of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff
and kill lice whole plant parts of Andrographis
echioides flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia
calendulacea prevented hair loss
Table 1 List of plants used by Malayali Tribal people for NTFP in Yercaud hills
S
No
Botanical Name Vernacular Name
(Tamil)
Family Parts used Purposes
1 Abrus pulchellus
Wall
Vellaikuntumani Fabaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
2 Acorus calamus
Linn
Vasambu Araceae Rhizome Rhizome made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the neck of new born
baby to get rid from evils
afflictions
3 Agave americana L Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
4 Agave angustifolia
Haw
Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
5 Alangium
hexapetalum Lam
Earualangi Alangiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
6 Alangium salvifolium
Linn
Alangal Alangiaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
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Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
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Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
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Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
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Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
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Ecology5312ndash19
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
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Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
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from polluted water meadow soil and
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Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
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produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
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symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
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distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
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Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
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Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
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New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
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2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
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Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
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Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
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Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
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Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
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Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
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Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
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Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
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Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
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Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
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plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
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MEDICINAL PLANTS RESEARCH
Micro-biology
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OILS OF ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS FROM
EASTERN ALGERIA
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre Chalard Gilles Figueredo 232ndash242
Ethno-Botany
ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF
EASTERN GHATS SALEM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU INDIA
Rekha R Senthil Kumar S
243ndash251
Review Article
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL
PLANTS
Sharma Rohit
252ndash262
Review Article
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR
BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan
263ndash277
COVER PAGE PHOTOGRAPHY DR HARI VENKATESH K R PLANT ID ndash INFLORESCENCE OF ANKOLA ndash ALANGIUM SALVIIFOLIUM
(LF) WANG OF THE FAMILY CORNACEAE PLACE ndash KOPPA CHIKKAMAGALUR DISTRICT
KARNATAKA INDIA
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OILS OF ROSMARINUS
OFFICINALIS FROM EASTERN ALGERIA
Takia Lograda1
Messaoud Ramdani2 Pierre Chalard
3 Gilles Figueredo
4
1 2
Laboratory of Natural Resource Valorisation SNV Faculty Ferhat Abbas University 19000 Setif Algeria 3Clermont Universiteacute ENSCCF Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand BP 10448 F-63000 CLERMONT-
FERRAND France 3CNRS UMR 6296 ICCF F-63171 Aubiegravere France
4LEXVA Analytique 460 rue du Montant 63110 Beaumont France
Corresponding author Email- tlograda63yahoofr Phone(213)36835894Fax (213) 36937943
Received 05052014 Revised 25052014 Accepted 02062014
ABSTRACT
The hydro-distillation of the essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis gave a viscous liquid with a
whitish colour The average yield of essential oil of the samples is 023 This investigation allows
us to support that R officinalis includes six chemotypes in eastern Algerian The difference of these
chemotypes variants is the concentration of Eucalyptol campene α-pinene and camphor The
antibacterial activity of the essential oils chemotypes was evaluated against nine bacteria
(Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp Serratia liquefaciens ATCC 27592 Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756 and Shigella
sp) The results showed that the essential oils have inhibited growth of bacterial strains The essential
oils chemotypes of Kherrata and the Bibans regions generally exhibit antibacterial activity against
the microorganismsrsquo tested The camphor chemotype with three variants exhibits a moderate
antibacterial activity
KEYWORDS Rosmarinus officinalis Lamiaceae Chemotype antibacterial activity Algeria
Research Article
Cite this article
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre Chalard Gilles Figueredo (2014)
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OILS OF ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS
FROM EASTERN ALGERIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 232ndash242
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis
contains mainly monoterpenes (Angioni et al
2004 Diaz-Maroto et al 2007) Principal
volatile compounds are camphor and
eucalyptol followed by borneol verbenone α-
pinene and camphene (Pino et al 1998
Zaouali et al 2005 Diaz-Maroto et al 2007
Calin-Sanchez et al 2011 Apostolides et al
2013 Lograda et al 2013) The volatile
compounds from rosemary samples could be
grouped in chemical families therefore the
predominant group was monoterpenoids (Bozin
et al 2007 Szumny et al 2010 Calin-
Sanchez et al 2011)
The chemical composition and seasonal
variations in rosemary oil were reported from
southern Spain (Salido et al 2003 Jordan et
al 2011 2013) All the samples studied by
Salido et al (2003) belonging to chemotypes
(α-pinene - 1 8-cineole - camphor) Jordan et
al (2013) identified five chemotypes based on
α-pinene - 1 8-cineole - camphor The
chemical polymorphism of the essential oil of
wild rosemary Spanish populations has been
reported and different chemotypes were defined
according to the geographical area (Varela et
al 2009) In a previous work five chemotypes
distributed in eastern Algeria were identified
(Lograda et al 2013)
Rosmarinus officinalis oil is widely used in
cosmetic food and pharmaceutical industries as
a fragrance component of soaps creams
lotions and perfumes Although it is popular
potential harmful side-effects of this oil have
been described The genotoxicity and
mutagenicity are confirmed by Maistro et al
(2010) The rosemary leaves are used in fried
chicken (Viuda-Martos et al 2010) The
rosemary essential oils have a number of
beneficial properties as natural preservatives in
cosmetics toiletries drugs and food products
(Bakkali et al 2008 Reichling et al 2009)
Sienkiewicz et al 2012)
The anti-inflammatory property of
rosemary extracts was reported by Masuda et
al (2001) Bozin et al (2007) Altinier et al
(2007) Poeckel et al (2008) Viuda-Martos et
al (2010) The interest was also generated due
to the anticarcinogenic activity (Cheung and
Tai 2001) The essential oil of R officinalis
showed antimytotic and antifungal activity
(Yang et al 2011 Mugnaini et al 2012) All
extracts of R officinalis were effective in
inhibiting bacterial growth (Abutbul et al
2004 Bozin et al 2007) Antimicrobial and
antioxidant activities of rosemary are
demonstrated (Faixova and Faix 2008 Kadri et
al 2011)
According to Lopez et al (2005) the oils
from R officinalis have an antibacterial
potential against the Gram-positive and Gram-
negative bacteria The authors presented a
detailed analysis of the tested oils and their
ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria The
rosemary oil has an antibacterial effect on a
number of microorganisms responsible for
respiratory infections (Fabio et al 2007)
Rosemary oil was found to demonstrate
antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli
strains with different patterns of resistance
(Probuseenivasan et al 2006 Sienkiewicz et
al 2013) The essential oil from R tournefortii
exhibited strong antibacterial activity against
Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and Staphylococcus aureus (Bendeddouche et
al 2011) All chemotypes of R officinalis
studied possessed antibacterial activities
(Wang et al 2012)
Though the flowering aerial part of this
plant commonly is used because of its
antiseptic properties heretofore there is no
report that investigated the antimicrobial
activity of this plant in eastern Algeria This
study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial
activities of the chemotype essential oils of
wild plants of R officinalis largely used in
Algeria obtained from samples grown in
Eastern Algeria as well as to validate its
traditionally uses
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Figure 1 Populations of Rosmarinus officinalis studied
MATERIALS amp METHODS
Plant material
Rosmarinus officinalis is collected from
five localities in eastern Algeria Kherrata
(Bedjaia) Boutaleb (Setif) Bibans (Bourdj
Bou-Arriridj) Agmeroual and Nrsquogaous
(Batna) and Boussacircada (MrsquoSila) (Figure 1)
The plant identification was performed by Dr
Lograda Takia The voucher specimens are
preserved in the Herbarium at the Department
of Biology and Ecology Vegetal Setif
University Algeria Aerial parts were collected
during the flowering stage in October 2013
Extraction of the essential oil
The air-dried aerial parts of the six
populations were subjected to hydro-distillation
for 3 h with distilled water using a Clevenger-
type apparatus The oil obtained was collected
and dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and
stored in screw capped glass vials in a
refrigerator at 4ndash5degC prior to the analysis
Antibacterial Activity
The antimicrobial activities of the essential
oils were evaluated against three Gram positive
(Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 MRSA
(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923) and six
Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli
ATCC 25922 Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp Serratia liquefaciens ATCC
27592 Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756
Shigella sp) The bacterial inoculums was
prepared from overnight broth culture in
physiological saline (08 of NaCl) in order to
obtain an optical density ranging from 008ndash01
at 625 nm Muller-Hinton agar (MH agar) and
MH agar supplemented with 5 sheep blood
for fastidious bacteria were poured in Petri
dishes solidified and surface dried before
inoculation Sterile discs (6 mm Φ) were placed
on inoculated agars by test bacteria filled with
10 μl of mother solution and diluted essential
oil (11 12 14 and 18 vv of DMSO)
DMSO was used as negative control Bacterial
growth inhibition was determined as the
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
diameter of the inhibition zones around the
discs All tests were performed in triplicate
Then Petri dishes were incubated at 37degC
during 18 to 24h aerobically After incubation
inhibition zone diameters were measured and
documented
RESULTS
The hydro-distillation of the essential oil of
R officinalis gave a viscous liquid with a
whitish colour The average yield of essential
oil of the samples is 023 the highest rate
was observed in the essential oil of Kherrata
population (035) while the population of
Agmeroual was characterised by the lowest
yield (010) R officinalis of eastern Algeria
includes several chemotypes (Table 1) The
first chemotype to eucalyptol has two variants
the first variant (E-Ca-αP-C) characterizes
Kherrata population the second chemotype (E-
αP-Ca-C) characterizes the Bibans population
The difference of these two chemotype variants
is the concentration of Eucalyptol and camphor
The second chemotype to camphor had three
variants the variant (Ca-C-αP-E) characterized
Boussacircada population Agmeroual population
contained the variant (Ca-αP-C-E) while the
third variant (Ca-αP-E-C) of this chemotype
was found in the region of Ngaous The third
chemotype to α-pinene (αP-Ca-E-C) in R
officinalis of eastern Algeria characterized the
population of Boutaleb
The antibacterial activity of the essential oil
chemotypes was evaluated against nine bacteria
(Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 MRSA
(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923
Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 Pseudomonas
syringae Salmonella sp Serratia liquefaciens
ATCC 27592 Serratia marcescens ATCC
14756 and Shigella sp) The disc diameters of
inhibition zone of essential oils for the
microorganisms tested are grouped in Table 2
The results showed that the essential oils have
inhibited the growth of bacterial strains The
diameters of the inhibition zone are between (0
and 40 mm) these diameters depended on the
sensitivity of the bacteria tested
The essential oil chemotypes of Kherrata
and the Bibans regions generally exhibited
antibacterial activity against the
microorganismsrsquo tested with an inhibition
diameter between 7 and 15 mm The
chemotype of Bibans populations had a high
activity with a dilution frac12 on Staphylococcus
aureus with a diameter of 40 mm (Figure 2)
The camphor chemotype with three variants
exhibits a moderate antibacterial activity with
an inhibition diameter (7ndash20 mm) The
essential oil is active on Enterobacter cloacea
with different dilutions The dilution 12 of
Agmeroual chemotype inhibited Escherichia
coli strongly with a diameter of 20 mm and no
effect was seen on Pseudomonas syringae
(Figure 3)
The chemotype of Boutaleb (α-pinene
variant) had an inhibitory effect with an
inhibition diameter (7ndash15 mm) This
chemotype is active on Enterobacter cloacae
and no activity on Pseudomonas syringae in the
frac14 dilution (Figure 4)
Table 1 Volatile profile of Rosemary essential oils selected by chemotype (Lograda et al 2013)
Populations Kherrata Bibans Agmeroual Ngaous Boussaacircda Boutaleb
Yield (vv)
035 03 02 01 025 015
Chemotypes Eucalyptol Camphor α-pinene
E-Ca-αP-
C
E-αP-Ca-C Ca-αP-C-E Ca-αP-E-C Ca-C-αP-
E
αP-Ca-C-
E Eucalyptol 355 422 54 121 66 88
α-pinene 114 138 169 136 151 252
Camphor 145 91 388 169 427 241
Camphene 80 53 138 37 177 227 Chemotype classification in relation with the chemical compounds found in rosemary samples
E = eucalyptol αP = α-pinene Ca = camphor C = camphene
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Table 2 Inhibition diameter (mm) of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil chemotype
Populations Kherrata Bibans Boussacircada Agmeroual Nrsquogaous Boutaleb
Chemotypes E-Ca-αp-C E-αp-Ca-C Ca-C-αp-E Ca-αp-C-E Ca-αp-E-C αp-Ca-E-C
Bacteria G Dilution Dilution Dilution
frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18
1 14 15 13 11 20 10 11 10 9 11 20 9 8 8 8 12 10 12 10
2 0 12 12 9 15 11 10 10 8 9 11 10 8 8 7 14 13 10 10
3 14 10 9 9 11 15 10 9 7 12 12 8 8 10 12 14 15 8 11
4 10 12 13 12 12 9 10 19 7 10 0 0 0 10 9 9 7 0 11
5 16 9 8 10 13 7 12 10 10 10 7 7 7 10 12 11 10 8 10
6 10 11 8 14 15 9 13 15 10 15 13 10 11 10 8 9 14 13 12
7 12 8 8 10 10 9 8 9 12 10 15 11 10 8 7 7 12 10 13
8 15 11 9 12 40 15 10 10 15 15 8 7 0 15 12 10 10 8 10
9 25 10 9 12 12 13 13 20 15 12 20 12 15 10 13 11 11 11 10
1 Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 2 Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 3 MRSA = Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus 4 Pseudomonas syringae 5 Salmonella sp 6 Serratia liquefaciens ATCC 27592 7
Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756 8 Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 9 Shigella sp
G = Gentamicine E = eucalyptol αP = α-pinene Ca = camphor C = camphene
Figure 2 Antibacterial activity of Kherrata and Bibans chemotypes
G frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18
Dilution
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Inhib
itio
n d
iam
ete
r (m
m)
E-Ca-ap-C
KherrataE-ap-Ca- C
Bibans
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Figure 3 Antibacterial activity of Boussaada Agmeroual and Nrsquogaous Chemotypes
Figure 4 Antibacterial activity of Boutaleb Chemotype
Gentamicine
frac12
frac14
18
frac12
frac14
18
frac12
frac14
18
Dilution
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26In
hib
itio
n d
iam
ete
r (m
m)
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
Ca-C-ap-E Boussacircada Ca-ap-C-E AgmeroualCa-ap-E-C Nrsquogaous
G frac12 frac14 18
Dilution
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
Inh
ibit
ion
dia
met
er (
mm
)
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
ap-Ca-E-C Boutaleb
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
DISCUSSION
Our returns of the essential oil are low
compared to those of the literature This yield is
between 06 and 08 (Atti-Santos et al 2005
Bekkara et al 2007) Ayadi et al (2011) found
a yield (071ndash2) which indicates that the yield
of rosemary varies according to geographical
location
The chemical components of the essential
oil of R officinalis showed that α-pinene
camphene eucalyptol and camphor are the
major products (Jordan et al 2013 Mugnaini
et al 2012 Sienkiewicz et al 2013
Matsuzaki et al 2013 Derwich et al 2011
Fadli et al 2011 Jalali-Heravi et al 2011
Issabeagloo et al 2012 Hussain et al 2011
Mudasir et al 2012 Verma et al 2011 Yang
et al 2011 Sui et al 2012 Aderiana et al
2013 Lograda et al 2013)
Based on the majority of Rosemary
components the authors identified three
chemotypes (Issabeagloo et al 2012 Mudasir
et al 2012 Sui et al 2012 Mugnaini et al
2012 Jordan et al 2013 Sienkiewicz et al
2013 Matsuzaki et al 2013 Aderiana et al
2013) the same chemotypes are found in our
samples with the presence of five variants The
eastern Algeria samples showed an average
antibacterial activity on all tested bacteria the
same observations were mentioned in the
literature (Lopez et al 2005 Probuseenivasan
et al 2006 Fabio et al 2007 Jiang et al
2011 Sienkiewicz et al 2013) This may be
partly due to the fact that the essential oils
contained more oxygenated compounds and
these classes of compounds have been proved
to possess strong antibacterial activities (Deba
et al 2008)
Generally the essential oils of R officinalis
have shown broad spectra of activity against
the tested microorganisms the same findings
were made by Gachkar et al (2007) on some
species of the genus The antimicrobial
property of the essential oil of R officinalis is
attributed to the presence of α-pinene 18-
cineole camphor verbinone and borneol
(Santoyo et al 2005) the quantities of these
compounds were very high in our oils
CONCLUSION
Six variants of Rosemary chemotypes
localized in eastern Algeria were used in the
determination of the antimicrobial activity
against the gram positive and negative bacteria
by the disc diffusion method The essential oil
obtained by hydrodistillation was more active
against microorganisms than the antibiotic
gentamicine The essential oils showed
inhibition zones against all micro-organisms
tested The Results indicate that essential oils
of Rosmarinus officinalis present significant
antimicrobial activity This antimicrobial
activity can be linked to its higher content of
oxygenated compounds This study provides
additional data of antibacterial activity of the
essential oils of R officinalis growing in
Algeria
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The work was supported by Algerian
MESRS and Chemical Laboratory of
carbohydrates Heterocyclic of Clermont
Ferrant France
REFERENCES
Abutbul S Golan-Goldhirsh A Barazani O
Zilberg D (2004) Use of Rosmarinus
officinalis as a treatment against
Streptococcus iniae in tilapia
(Oreochromis sp) Aquaculture 238
97ndash105
Adriana M Ojeda-Sana C M van Baren M A
Elechosa M A Juarez S M (2013) New
insights into antibacterial and
antioxidant activities of rosemary
essential oils and their main
components Food Control 31 189ndash
195
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Altinier G Sosa S Aquino RP Mencherini T
Loggia RD Tubaro A (2007)
Characterization of topical
antiinflammatory compounds in
Rosmarinus officinalis L J Agric
Food Chem 55 1718ndash1723
Angioni A Barra A Cereti E Barile D
Coisson JD Arlorio M Dessi S
Coroneo V Cabras P (2004) Chemical
composition plant genetic differences
antimicrobial and antifungal activity
investigation of the essential of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry 52
3530ndash3535
Apostolides Nelly Arnold Marc El Beyrouthy
Wissal Dhifi Samir Najm Fabrice
Cazier Wafaa Najem Madonna Labaki
Antoine AbouKaiumls (2013) Chemical
Composition of Aerial Parts of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Growing Wild in Lebanon Journal of
Essential Oil Bearing Plants 16(2)
274ndash282
Atti-Santos Ana Cristina Marcelo Rossato
Gabriel Fernandes Pauletti Luciana
Duarte Rota Juarez Ciro Rech Marcia
Regina Pansera Fabiana Agostini
Luciana Atti Serafini and Patrick
Moyna (2005) Physico-chemical
Evaluation of Rosmarinus officinalis L
Essential Oils Brazilian Archives of
Biology and Technology 48(6) 1035ndash
1039
Ayadi S Jerribi C Abderrabba M (2011)
Extraction et eacutetude des huiles
essentielles de Rosmarinus Officinalis
cueillie dans trois reacutegions diffeacuterentes de
la Tunisie Journal de la Socieacuteteacute
Algeacuterienne de Chimie 21(1) 25ndash33
Bekkara F Atik Bousmaha L Taleb Bendiab S
A Boti J B Casanova J (2007)
Composition chimique de lrsquohuile
essentielle de Rosmarinus officinalis L
poussant agrave lrsquoeacutetat spontaneacute et cultiveacute de
la reacutegion de Tlemcen Biologie amp Santeacute
7(1) 6ndash11
Bendeddouche M S Benhassaini H Hazem Z
Romane A (2011) Essential oil analysis
and antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
tournefortii from Algeria Nat Prod
Commun 6 1511ndash1514
Bozin B Mimica-Dukic N Samojlik I Jovin E
(2007) Antimicrobial and antioxidant
properties of rosemary and sage
(Rosmarinus officinalis L and Salvia
officinalis L Lamiaceae) essential oils
Journal of Agricultural and Food
Chemistry 55 7879ndash7885
Calin-Sanchez Angel Antoni Szumny Adam
Figiel Klaudiusz Jałoszynski Maciej
Adamski Angel A Carbonell-
Barrachin (2011) Effects of vacuum
level and microwave power on
rosemary volatile composition during
vacuumndashmicrowave drying Journal of
Food Engineering 103 219ndash227
Cheung S Tai J (2001) Anti-proliferative and
antioxidant properties of rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis Oncol Rep 17
1525ndash1531
Deba F Xuan TD Yasudaa M Tawata S
(2008) Chemical composition and
antioxidant antibacterial and antifungal
activities of the essential oils from
Bidens pilosa Linn var Radiata Food
Control 19 346ndash352
Derwich E Benziane Z Chabir R (2011)
Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of
Morocco Chemical Composition of
essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis
and Juniperus Phoenicea International
Journal of Applied Biology and
Pharmaceutical Technology 2(1) 145ndash
153
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Diaz-Maroto MC Perez-Coello MS Sanchez-
Palomo E Gonzalez-Vinas MA (2007)
Impact of drying and storage time on
sensory characteristics of rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis L) Journal of
Sensory Studies 22 34ndash48
Fabio A Cermelli C Fabio G Nicoletti P
Quaglio P (2007) Screening of the
antibacterial effects of a variety of
essential oils on microorganisms
responsible for respiratory infections
Phytother Res 21 374ndash377
Fadli Mariam Jacqueline Chevalier Asmaa
Saad Nour-Eddine Mezrioui Lahcen
Hassani Jean-Marie Pages (2011)
Essential oils from Moroccan plants as
potential chemosensitisers restoring
antibiotic activity in resistant Gram-
negative bacteria International Journal
of Antimicrobial Agents 38 325ndash330
Faixov ZR Faix S (2008) Biological effects of
Rosmary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
essensial oil (A Review) Folia
Veterinaria 5(3-4) 135ndash139
Gachkar L Yadegari D Rezaei MB
Taghizadeh M Astaneh SA Rasooli I
(2007) Chemical and biological
characteristics of Cuminum cyminum
and Rosmarinus officinalis essential
oils Food Chemistry 102 898ndash904
Hussain Abdullah I Farooq Anwar Poonam S
Nigam Satyajit D Sarker John E
Moore Juluri R Rao Anisha Mazumdar
(2011) Antibacterial activity of some
Lamiaceae essential oils using resazurin
as an indicator of cell growth LWT
Food Science and Technology 44
1199ndash1206
Issabeagloo Eilyad Parviz Kermanizadeh
Mohammad Taghizadieh Reza Forughi
(2012) Antimicrobial effects of
rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L)
essential oils against Staphylococcus
spp African Journal of Microbiology
Research 6(23) 5039ndash5042
Jalali-Heravi Mehdi Rudabeh Sadat Moazeni
Hassan Sereshti (2011) Analysis of
Iranian rosemary essential oil
Application of gas chromatographyndash
mass spectrometry combined with
chemometrics Journal of
Chromatography A 1218 2569ndash2576
Jiang Y Wu N Fu Y-J Wang W Luo M Zhao
CJ Zu YG Liu XL (2011) Chemical
composition and antimicrobial activity
of the essential oil of Rosemary
Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 32 63ndash
68
Jordan MJ Lax V Martinez C Aouissat M
Sotomayor JA 2011 Chemical
intraspecific variability and chemotypes
determination of Rosmarinus officinalis
L in the region of Murcia Acta
Horticulturae 925 109ndash114
Jordan MJ Vanesa Lax Maria C Rota Susana
Loran Joseacute A Sotomayor (2013)
Effect of bioclimatic area on the
essential oil composition and
antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L Food Control 30 463ndash
468
Kadri Adel Zied Zarai Ines BenChobba
Ahmed Beacutekir Neacuteji Gharsallah
Mohamed Damak Radhouane Gdoura
(2011) Chemical constituents and
antioxidant properties of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil cultivated
from the South-Western of Tunisia
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research
5(29) 6502ndash6508
Lopez P Sanchez C Battle R Nerin C (2005)
Soilid- and vapour-phase antimicrobial
activities of six essential oils
Susceptibility of selected foodborne
bacterial and fungal strains Agric Food
Chem 53 6939ndash6946
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Maistro EL Mota SF Lima EB Bernardes
BM Goulart FC (2010) Genotoxicity
and mutagenicity of Rosmarinus
officinalis (Labiatae) essential oil in
mammalian cells in vivo Genetics and
Molecular Research 9(4) 2113ndash2122
Martins MR Tinoco MT Almeida AS Cruz-
Morais J (2012) Chemical
Composition Antioxidant and
Antimicrobial properties of three
Essential oils from Portuguese Flora
Journal of Pharmacognosy 3(1) 39ndash44
Masuda T Inaba Y Takeda Y (2001)
Antioxidant mechanism of carnosic
acid structural identification of two
oxidation products J Agric Food
Chem 49 5560ndash5565
Matsuzaki Yusuke Toshiyuki Tsujisawa
Tatsuji Nishihara Mari Nakamura
Yasuaki Kakinoki (2013) Antifungal
activity of chemotype essential oils
from rosemary against Candida
albicans Open Journal of Stomatology
3 176ndash182
Mudasir A Tantry Syed Shabir Reehana Khan
Afsha Habib Seema Akbar (2012)
Determination of Essential Oil
Composition of Rosmarinus officinalis
Growing as Exotic species in Kashmir
Valley Chemistry of Natural
Compounds 47(6) 1012ndash1014
Mugnaini L Nardoni S Pinto L Pistelli L
Leonardi M Pisseri F Mancianti F
(2012) In vitro and in vivo antifungal
activity of some essential oils against
feline isolates of Microsporum canis
Journal de Mycologie Meacutedicale 22
179ndash184
Pino JA Estrarron M Fuentes V (1998)
Essential Oil of Rosemary (Rosmarinus
Officinalis L) from Cuba J Essent Oil
Res 10 111
Poeckel D Greiner C Verhoff M Rau O
Tausch L Heornig C Steinhilber D
Schubert-Zsilavecz M Werz O (2008)
Carnosic acid and carnosol potently
inhibit human 5-lipoxygenase and
suppress pro-inflammatory responses of
stimulated human polymorphonuclear
leukocytes Biochem Pharmacol 76
91ndash97
Prabuseenivasan S Jayakumar M Ignacimuthu
S (2006) In vitro antibacterial activity
of some plant essential oils BMC
Complement Altern Med 6 39
Reichling J Schnitzler P Suschke U Saller R
(2009) Essential oils of aromatic plants
with antibacterial antifungal antiviral
and cytotoxic properties-An overview
Forsch Komplementmed 16 79ndash90
Salido S Altarejos J Nogueras M Sanchez A
Luque P (2003) Chemical composition
and seasonal variations of rosemary oil
from Southern Spain Journal of
Essentials Oil Research 15 10ndash14
Santoyo S Cavero S Jaime L Ibanez E
Senorans FJ Reglero G (2005)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil obtained via
supercritical fluid extraction Journal of
Food Protection 68(4) 790ndash795
Sienkiewicz M Kowalczyk E Wasiela M
(2012) Recent patents regarding
essential oils and the significance of
their constituents in human health and
treatment Recent Pat Anti Infect Drug
Discov 7 133ndash140
Sienkiewicz Monika Monika Lysakowska
Marta Pastuszka Wojciech Bienias
Edward Kowalczyk (2013) The
Potential of Use Basil and Rosemary
Essential Oils as Effective Antibacterial
Agents Molecules 18 9334ndash9351
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Sui Xiaoyu Tingting Liu Chunhui Ma Lei
Yang Yuangang Zu Lin Zhang Hua
Wang (2012) Microwave irradiation to
pretreat rosemary (Rosmarinus
officinalis L) for maintaining
antioxidant content during storage and
to extract essential oil simultaneously
Food Chemistry 131 1399ndash1405
Szumny Antoni Adam Figiel Antonio
Gutierrez-Ortiz Angel A Carbonell
Barrachina (2010) Composition of
rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus
officinalis) as affected by drying
method Journal of Food Engineering
97 253ndash260
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre
Chalard Gilles Figueredo (2013)
Characteristics of Essential oils of
Rosmarinus officinalis from eastern
Algeria Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med 2(12) 794ndash807
Varela F Navarrete P Cristobal R Fanlo M
Melero R Sotomayor J A (2009)
Variability in the chemical composition
of wild Rosmarinus officinalis L Acta
Horticulturae 826 167ndash174
Verma Ram S Laiqur Rahman Sunita Mishra
Rajesh K V Amit Chauhan Anand
Singh (2011) Changes in essential oil
content and composition of leaf and leaf
powder of Rosmarinus officinalis cv
CIM-Hariyali during storage Maejo Int
J Sci Technol 5(02) 181ndash190
Viuda-Martos M El Gendy A E-N G S
Sendra E Fernandez-Lopez J Abd El
Razik K A Omer E A Jose A Perez-
Alvarez (2010) Chemical composition
and antioxidant and anti-Listeria
activities of essential oils obtained from
some Egyptian plants Journal
Agriculture Food Chemistry 58(16)
9063ndash9070
Wang Wei Nan Li Meng Luo Yuangang Zu
Thomas Efferth (2012) Antibacterial
Activity and Anticancer Activity of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Compared to That of Its Main
Components Molecules 17 2704ndash
2713
Yang Jiang Nan Wu Yu-Jie Fu Wei Wang
Meng Luo Chun-Jian Zhao Yuan-
Gang Zu Xiao-Lei Liu (2011)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of the essential oil
of Rosemary Environmental
Toxicology and Pharmacology 32 63ndash
68
Zaouali Y Messaoud C BenSalah A Boussaid
M (2005) Oil composition variability
among populations in relationship with
their ecological areas in Tunisian
Rosmarinus officinalis L Flavour
Fragrance J 20 512ndash520
Source of Support Algerian MESRS and
Chemical Laboratory of carbohydrates
Heterocyclic of Clermont Ferrant France
Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS
SALEM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU INDIA
Rekha R
1 Senthil Kumar S
2
1 2PG and Research Department of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and Science for Women
(Autonomous) Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal(DT) Tamil Nadu India
Corresponding Author E- Mail rekha87rajagmailcom
Received 26042014 Revised 24052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
An ethno-botanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills Southern
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu India during November 2012ndashMarch 2014 This study
mainly focused on the plants used by the Malayali tribes for various purposes (Construction
materials house hold implements brushing fuel wood agriculture tools religious decorative to
ward off evil spirits) through standardized questionnaires interviews and discussions with very old
and knowledgeable tribals A total of 84 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 42 families were
recorded in the present study These extremely important plants should be taken into account and
steps have to be taken to increase their production for future benefit
KEY WORDS Yercaud hills Malayali tribes Ethno-botany
Research Article
Cite this article
Rekha R Senthil Kumar S (2014) ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS SALEM DISTRICT
TAMIL NADU INDIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 243ndash251
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
Plants are used against a number of
diseases by many indigenous communities in
traditional medicine plants are also used in
building materials fodder weapons and other
commodities of economical importance The
tribal people are economically backward ethnic
groups and constitute separate socio-cultural
groups Many local and indigenous
communities in Asian countries meet their
basic needs from the forest products they
manufacture and sell based on their traditional
knowledge (John Kennedy 2006) Yercaud
hills have been gifted with enormous number
of plant species Tribal people living in
Yercaud hills depend on these plants for their
survival These plants play a vital role in their
life as these people depend on the forest wealth
to meet their needs Their economic condition
is determined by these plants Yercaud hill
range is situated to the north-east part of
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu
India with rich vegetation and it covers an area
of 150 square miles (390 Sq km) It lies
between 11deg45rsquo56rdquo N latitude and 78deg17rsquo55rdquo E
longitude The temperature ranges from 13degC
to 29degC on the peaks and 25degC to 40degC at the
foot hills The average annual rainfall is around
1500ndash1750 mm The indigenous people
inhabiting Yercaud hill are called Malayali the
oldest group of the branch of the ethnic group
in South India Malayali simply means a hill
person an appellation distinguishing them from
the people of plains In physical appearance
they scarcely differ from the people of plains
They speak Tamil dialect of their own They
are supposed to be descendants of
Kanchipuram vellalar They appear to have
migrated from Kanchipuram (a town near
Chennai Tamil Nadu India) between seventh
and eleventh centuries The tribals are mostly
working as casual laborers in coffee estates
They are cultivating food grains fruits and
vegetable (Alagesaboopathi et al 1996)
Malayali tribals use more number of plants for
various purposes like for making construction
materials house hold implements brushing
plants fuel wood agriculture tools religious
decorative to ward off evil spirits etc This
study enumerates such useful plants which are
used by Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills
Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu India
Data Collection
Frequent field surveys were carried out in
Yercaud hills in different seasons during
November 2012ndashMarch 2014 Information on the plants was collected through personal
interview with village headman farmers and
other knowledgeable tribals The interviews
were conducted in the local language (Tamil)
the information includes local names plant
parts used and method of utilization was
gathered from them with regard to each plant
The collected information was recorded on
field note books and plants were identified
using the Flora of the Presidency of Madras
(Gamble 1935) and Flora of Tamil Nadu-
Carnatic (Matthew 1983) Plant specimens
were deposited for future references in the
Botany department Vivekanandha College of
Arts and Sciences for women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal
(DT) Tamil Nadu India
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The present study focused mainly on the
role of non timber forest products in the
livelihood of Malayali tribes of Yercaud hills
Salem district Tamil Nadu India During the
study period 84 plant species belonging to 70
genera and 42 families were identified to be
utilized by Malayali tribes (Table 1) The
reported plants were arranged to their
Botanical Name Vernacular name as recorded
during field work habit and uses Plants
utilized by Malayali tribes can be classified
under various categories like fuel wood plants
house construction and house hold implements
agriculture tools religious importance plants
plants used to ward off evil afflictions hair
care and toothbrush The plants listed mainly
belong to Rubiaceae (6 species) followed by
Fabaceae and Moraceae (5 species)
Mimosaceae Rutaceae and Poaceae (4
species) Combretaceae Anacardiaceae
Euphorbiaceae Apocynaceae (3 species)
Asparagaceae Alangiaceae Asclepidaceae
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Meliaceae Caesalpiniaceae Verbenaceae
Arecaceae Ebenaceae Lamiaceae Tiliaceae
Myrtaceae and Dipterocarpaceae (2 species)
Araceae Acanthaceae Annonaceae
Papaveraceae Bambusaceae Borangiaceae
Cyperaceae Droseraceae Proteaceae
Convolvulaceae Gyrocarpeaceae Ulmaceae
Malvaceae Lythraceae Nyctaginaceae
Moringaceae Salicaceae Araliaceae
Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species) From
the study it was observed that 51 taxa are trees
(60) 23 taxa are herbs (20) and 10 taxa are
shrub (12)
Fire wood plants
One of the most important non timber
forest products for daily life is fuel wood the
only means of energy source of Malayali
tribes The fuel wood species are collected
from the forest near to the hamlets The species
preferred for fire wood to their comfortable
availability and inflammability According to
Malayali tribes which are not considered as a
source of good timber are treated as fire wood
The fire wood utilized by Malayali tribes
belong to 15 species 15 genera and 10
families they are Albizzia lebbeck Benth
Bauhinia tomentosa L Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb Chomelia astiactica OKze
Diospyros montana Roxb Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq Holopetela integrifolia
(Roxb) Planch Mallotus philippensis M Arg
Moringa oleifera Lamk Plectronia didyma
Kurz Salix tetrasperma Roxb Shorea robusta
Roth Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels Terminalia
bellerica Roxb and Zanthoxylum budrunga
Wall
House construction and house hold
implements
Malayali tribes have good Knowledge to
use natural resources specifically plants for
their day-to-day life Malayali tribes use
Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq leaves to make
meal plate Phoenix sylverstris Roxb leaves to
make broom stick Cyperus rotundus L
Ophiuros exalatus OKtz Oryza sativa L
Sorghum vulgare L are used for roofing and
thatching Mature stem of Cassia fistula Linn
Chloroxylon swietenia DC Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl and Terminalia
chebula Retz were used to make pounder
Mature stem of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam is
used to make churn-staff woody stem of
Mangifera indica L is used to make wood
grinder leaves of Cassia fistula Linn is used
for ripening of fruits Gmelina arborea Roxb
mature stem is used as a stick for musical
instrument the fibers from the leaf fibers of
Agave americana L and Agave angustifolia
Haw are used for making coir the culm of
Bambusa arundinacea Willd is used for
making various types of baskets leaves of
Corypha umbracalifer L is used for making
baskets and decoration in ceremonies
Wood forms an important construction
material for houses cattle sheds and temporary
settlements in the area Windows doors and
cots were chiefly made up of Albizia
odoratissima Benth Cleistanthus Collins
Benth Cordia wallichii G Don Dalberiga
lanceolaria L Diospyros edenum JKoeing
Gardenia resinifera Roth Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br Melia composite Willd
Shorea roxburghii Roxb Tectona grandis
Linn Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall and
Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk
Agricultural implements
For making agricultural implements four
species were used such as Chloroxylon
swietenia DC and Bumbusa arundinacea Willd
were used for making handle of axe and woody
stem of Anogeissus latifolia Wall and Tectona
grandis Linn is made in the shape of a harrow
by Malayali tribes
Plants used for Religious purposes
Ceremonial plant use is of principal
importance in daily Malayali tribe life and
many species have a specific ceremonial
significance generally associated with
blessings age-rites and witchcraft Some plants
are used as offerings to god among these tribes
Asclepias curassavica L Cassia montana
Heyne Clerodendrum serratum L and
Plumeria rubra L flowers are used in religious
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
practice to worship God Holarrhena
pubescens (Buch-Ham) WallexGDon
Wrightia tinctoria RBr mature stem are used
in all traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions
Malayali tribes believe that some of the
plants bring good fortune and keep off evil
spirits The exudates of Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb and Semecarpus
anacardium L are used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect them from evils
afflictions brush body with leaves and root of
Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake
bite brush body with leaves of Schefflera
racemosa Harms protect from evils afflictions
roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Aitf is
stitched together and then worn around the hip
to protect from evils afflictions rhizome of the
Acorus calamus Linn is made into pieces and
stitched together and worn around the neck of a
new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions
Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate
sexual desire ie Abrus pulchellus Wall
Alangium hexapetalum Lam Canthium
parviflorum Lam Drosera indica L Evolvulus
alsinoides Linn Ficus bengalensis Linn
Grewia tenax (forssk) fiori Mimosa pudica
Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn Ocimum canum
Sims and Randia dumetorum Lam
Plants used as Toothbrush
Malayali tribals generally use the young
twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn
Azadirachta indica AJuss Ficus glomerata
Roxb Ficus religosa Linn Jatropha curcas L
and Psidium guajava Linn areial root of Ficus
benghalensis Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn
rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula Retz
fruit powder are used as tooth powder
Plants used in Hair Nourishment
Heredity older age lack of nutrition
infections (such as worms lice scabies
dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic
products (soaps shampoos and hair oils) may
cause hair loss dandruff discoloration of hairs
Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant
resources for hair disorders For example
Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a
shampoo seeds of Argemone mexicana root of
Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening
the hairs flowers of Annona squamosa amp fruit
of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff
and kill lice whole plant parts of Andrographis
echioides flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia
calendulacea prevented hair loss
Table 1 List of plants used by Malayali Tribal people for NTFP in Yercaud hills
S
No
Botanical Name Vernacular Name
(Tamil)
Family Parts used Purposes
1 Abrus pulchellus
Wall
Vellaikuntumani Fabaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
2 Acorus calamus
Linn
Vasambu Araceae Rhizome Rhizome made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the neck of new born
baby to get rid from evils
afflictions
3 Agave americana L Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
4 Agave angustifolia
Haw
Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
5 Alangium
hexapetalum Lam
Earualangi Alangiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
6 Alangium salvifolium
Linn
Alangal Alangiaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
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Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
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Mycology CABI PublishingNew
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Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
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IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
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Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
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Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
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Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
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2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
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289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
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Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
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Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
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Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
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Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
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Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OILS OF ROSMARINUS
OFFICINALIS FROM EASTERN ALGERIA
Takia Lograda1
Messaoud Ramdani2 Pierre Chalard
3 Gilles Figueredo
4
1 2
Laboratory of Natural Resource Valorisation SNV Faculty Ferhat Abbas University 19000 Setif Algeria 3Clermont Universiteacute ENSCCF Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand BP 10448 F-63000 CLERMONT-
FERRAND France 3CNRS UMR 6296 ICCF F-63171 Aubiegravere France
4LEXVA Analytique 460 rue du Montant 63110 Beaumont France
Corresponding author Email- tlograda63yahoofr Phone(213)36835894Fax (213) 36937943
Received 05052014 Revised 25052014 Accepted 02062014
ABSTRACT
The hydro-distillation of the essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis gave a viscous liquid with a
whitish colour The average yield of essential oil of the samples is 023 This investigation allows
us to support that R officinalis includes six chemotypes in eastern Algerian The difference of these
chemotypes variants is the concentration of Eucalyptol campene α-pinene and camphor The
antibacterial activity of the essential oils chemotypes was evaluated against nine bacteria
(Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp Serratia liquefaciens ATCC 27592 Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756 and Shigella
sp) The results showed that the essential oils have inhibited growth of bacterial strains The essential
oils chemotypes of Kherrata and the Bibans regions generally exhibit antibacterial activity against
the microorganismsrsquo tested The camphor chemotype with three variants exhibits a moderate
antibacterial activity
KEYWORDS Rosmarinus officinalis Lamiaceae Chemotype antibacterial activity Algeria
Research Article
Cite this article
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre Chalard Gilles Figueredo (2014)
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OILS OF ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS
FROM EASTERN ALGERIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 232ndash242
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis
contains mainly monoterpenes (Angioni et al
2004 Diaz-Maroto et al 2007) Principal
volatile compounds are camphor and
eucalyptol followed by borneol verbenone α-
pinene and camphene (Pino et al 1998
Zaouali et al 2005 Diaz-Maroto et al 2007
Calin-Sanchez et al 2011 Apostolides et al
2013 Lograda et al 2013) The volatile
compounds from rosemary samples could be
grouped in chemical families therefore the
predominant group was monoterpenoids (Bozin
et al 2007 Szumny et al 2010 Calin-
Sanchez et al 2011)
The chemical composition and seasonal
variations in rosemary oil were reported from
southern Spain (Salido et al 2003 Jordan et
al 2011 2013) All the samples studied by
Salido et al (2003) belonging to chemotypes
(α-pinene - 1 8-cineole - camphor) Jordan et
al (2013) identified five chemotypes based on
α-pinene - 1 8-cineole - camphor The
chemical polymorphism of the essential oil of
wild rosemary Spanish populations has been
reported and different chemotypes were defined
according to the geographical area (Varela et
al 2009) In a previous work five chemotypes
distributed in eastern Algeria were identified
(Lograda et al 2013)
Rosmarinus officinalis oil is widely used in
cosmetic food and pharmaceutical industries as
a fragrance component of soaps creams
lotions and perfumes Although it is popular
potential harmful side-effects of this oil have
been described The genotoxicity and
mutagenicity are confirmed by Maistro et al
(2010) The rosemary leaves are used in fried
chicken (Viuda-Martos et al 2010) The
rosemary essential oils have a number of
beneficial properties as natural preservatives in
cosmetics toiletries drugs and food products
(Bakkali et al 2008 Reichling et al 2009)
Sienkiewicz et al 2012)
The anti-inflammatory property of
rosemary extracts was reported by Masuda et
al (2001) Bozin et al (2007) Altinier et al
(2007) Poeckel et al (2008) Viuda-Martos et
al (2010) The interest was also generated due
to the anticarcinogenic activity (Cheung and
Tai 2001) The essential oil of R officinalis
showed antimytotic and antifungal activity
(Yang et al 2011 Mugnaini et al 2012) All
extracts of R officinalis were effective in
inhibiting bacterial growth (Abutbul et al
2004 Bozin et al 2007) Antimicrobial and
antioxidant activities of rosemary are
demonstrated (Faixova and Faix 2008 Kadri et
al 2011)
According to Lopez et al (2005) the oils
from R officinalis have an antibacterial
potential against the Gram-positive and Gram-
negative bacteria The authors presented a
detailed analysis of the tested oils and their
ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria The
rosemary oil has an antibacterial effect on a
number of microorganisms responsible for
respiratory infections (Fabio et al 2007)
Rosemary oil was found to demonstrate
antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli
strains with different patterns of resistance
(Probuseenivasan et al 2006 Sienkiewicz et
al 2013) The essential oil from R tournefortii
exhibited strong antibacterial activity against
Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and Staphylococcus aureus (Bendeddouche et
al 2011) All chemotypes of R officinalis
studied possessed antibacterial activities
(Wang et al 2012)
Though the flowering aerial part of this
plant commonly is used because of its
antiseptic properties heretofore there is no
report that investigated the antimicrobial
activity of this plant in eastern Algeria This
study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial
activities of the chemotype essential oils of
wild plants of R officinalis largely used in
Algeria obtained from samples grown in
Eastern Algeria as well as to validate its
traditionally uses
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Figure 1 Populations of Rosmarinus officinalis studied
MATERIALS amp METHODS
Plant material
Rosmarinus officinalis is collected from
five localities in eastern Algeria Kherrata
(Bedjaia) Boutaleb (Setif) Bibans (Bourdj
Bou-Arriridj) Agmeroual and Nrsquogaous
(Batna) and Boussacircada (MrsquoSila) (Figure 1)
The plant identification was performed by Dr
Lograda Takia The voucher specimens are
preserved in the Herbarium at the Department
of Biology and Ecology Vegetal Setif
University Algeria Aerial parts were collected
during the flowering stage in October 2013
Extraction of the essential oil
The air-dried aerial parts of the six
populations were subjected to hydro-distillation
for 3 h with distilled water using a Clevenger-
type apparatus The oil obtained was collected
and dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and
stored in screw capped glass vials in a
refrigerator at 4ndash5degC prior to the analysis
Antibacterial Activity
The antimicrobial activities of the essential
oils were evaluated against three Gram positive
(Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 MRSA
(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923) and six
Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli
ATCC 25922 Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp Serratia liquefaciens ATCC
27592 Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756
Shigella sp) The bacterial inoculums was
prepared from overnight broth culture in
physiological saline (08 of NaCl) in order to
obtain an optical density ranging from 008ndash01
at 625 nm Muller-Hinton agar (MH agar) and
MH agar supplemented with 5 sheep blood
for fastidious bacteria were poured in Petri
dishes solidified and surface dried before
inoculation Sterile discs (6 mm Φ) were placed
on inoculated agars by test bacteria filled with
10 μl of mother solution and diluted essential
oil (11 12 14 and 18 vv of DMSO)
DMSO was used as negative control Bacterial
growth inhibition was determined as the
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
diameter of the inhibition zones around the
discs All tests were performed in triplicate
Then Petri dishes were incubated at 37degC
during 18 to 24h aerobically After incubation
inhibition zone diameters were measured and
documented
RESULTS
The hydro-distillation of the essential oil of
R officinalis gave a viscous liquid with a
whitish colour The average yield of essential
oil of the samples is 023 the highest rate
was observed in the essential oil of Kherrata
population (035) while the population of
Agmeroual was characterised by the lowest
yield (010) R officinalis of eastern Algeria
includes several chemotypes (Table 1) The
first chemotype to eucalyptol has two variants
the first variant (E-Ca-αP-C) characterizes
Kherrata population the second chemotype (E-
αP-Ca-C) characterizes the Bibans population
The difference of these two chemotype variants
is the concentration of Eucalyptol and camphor
The second chemotype to camphor had three
variants the variant (Ca-C-αP-E) characterized
Boussacircada population Agmeroual population
contained the variant (Ca-αP-C-E) while the
third variant (Ca-αP-E-C) of this chemotype
was found in the region of Ngaous The third
chemotype to α-pinene (αP-Ca-E-C) in R
officinalis of eastern Algeria characterized the
population of Boutaleb
The antibacterial activity of the essential oil
chemotypes was evaluated against nine bacteria
(Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 MRSA
(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923
Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 Pseudomonas
syringae Salmonella sp Serratia liquefaciens
ATCC 27592 Serratia marcescens ATCC
14756 and Shigella sp) The disc diameters of
inhibition zone of essential oils for the
microorganisms tested are grouped in Table 2
The results showed that the essential oils have
inhibited the growth of bacterial strains The
diameters of the inhibition zone are between (0
and 40 mm) these diameters depended on the
sensitivity of the bacteria tested
The essential oil chemotypes of Kherrata
and the Bibans regions generally exhibited
antibacterial activity against the
microorganismsrsquo tested with an inhibition
diameter between 7 and 15 mm The
chemotype of Bibans populations had a high
activity with a dilution frac12 on Staphylococcus
aureus with a diameter of 40 mm (Figure 2)
The camphor chemotype with three variants
exhibits a moderate antibacterial activity with
an inhibition diameter (7ndash20 mm) The
essential oil is active on Enterobacter cloacea
with different dilutions The dilution 12 of
Agmeroual chemotype inhibited Escherichia
coli strongly with a diameter of 20 mm and no
effect was seen on Pseudomonas syringae
(Figure 3)
The chemotype of Boutaleb (α-pinene
variant) had an inhibitory effect with an
inhibition diameter (7ndash15 mm) This
chemotype is active on Enterobacter cloacae
and no activity on Pseudomonas syringae in the
frac14 dilution (Figure 4)
Table 1 Volatile profile of Rosemary essential oils selected by chemotype (Lograda et al 2013)
Populations Kherrata Bibans Agmeroual Ngaous Boussaacircda Boutaleb
Yield (vv)
035 03 02 01 025 015
Chemotypes Eucalyptol Camphor α-pinene
E-Ca-αP-
C
E-αP-Ca-C Ca-αP-C-E Ca-αP-E-C Ca-C-αP-
E
αP-Ca-C-
E Eucalyptol 355 422 54 121 66 88
α-pinene 114 138 169 136 151 252
Camphor 145 91 388 169 427 241
Camphene 80 53 138 37 177 227 Chemotype classification in relation with the chemical compounds found in rosemary samples
E = eucalyptol αP = α-pinene Ca = camphor C = camphene
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Table 2 Inhibition diameter (mm) of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil chemotype
Populations Kherrata Bibans Boussacircada Agmeroual Nrsquogaous Boutaleb
Chemotypes E-Ca-αp-C E-αp-Ca-C Ca-C-αp-E Ca-αp-C-E Ca-αp-E-C αp-Ca-E-C
Bacteria G Dilution Dilution Dilution
frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18
1 14 15 13 11 20 10 11 10 9 11 20 9 8 8 8 12 10 12 10
2 0 12 12 9 15 11 10 10 8 9 11 10 8 8 7 14 13 10 10
3 14 10 9 9 11 15 10 9 7 12 12 8 8 10 12 14 15 8 11
4 10 12 13 12 12 9 10 19 7 10 0 0 0 10 9 9 7 0 11
5 16 9 8 10 13 7 12 10 10 10 7 7 7 10 12 11 10 8 10
6 10 11 8 14 15 9 13 15 10 15 13 10 11 10 8 9 14 13 12
7 12 8 8 10 10 9 8 9 12 10 15 11 10 8 7 7 12 10 13
8 15 11 9 12 40 15 10 10 15 15 8 7 0 15 12 10 10 8 10
9 25 10 9 12 12 13 13 20 15 12 20 12 15 10 13 11 11 11 10
1 Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 2 Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 3 MRSA = Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus 4 Pseudomonas syringae 5 Salmonella sp 6 Serratia liquefaciens ATCC 27592 7
Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756 8 Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 9 Shigella sp
G = Gentamicine E = eucalyptol αP = α-pinene Ca = camphor C = camphene
Figure 2 Antibacterial activity of Kherrata and Bibans chemotypes
G frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18
Dilution
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Inhib
itio
n d
iam
ete
r (m
m)
E-Ca-ap-C
KherrataE-ap-Ca- C
Bibans
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Figure 3 Antibacterial activity of Boussaada Agmeroual and Nrsquogaous Chemotypes
Figure 4 Antibacterial activity of Boutaleb Chemotype
Gentamicine
frac12
frac14
18
frac12
frac14
18
frac12
frac14
18
Dilution
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26In
hib
itio
n d
iam
ete
r (m
m)
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
Ca-C-ap-E Boussacircada Ca-ap-C-E AgmeroualCa-ap-E-C Nrsquogaous
G frac12 frac14 18
Dilution
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
Inh
ibit
ion
dia
met
er (
mm
)
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
ap-Ca-E-C Boutaleb
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
DISCUSSION
Our returns of the essential oil are low
compared to those of the literature This yield is
between 06 and 08 (Atti-Santos et al 2005
Bekkara et al 2007) Ayadi et al (2011) found
a yield (071ndash2) which indicates that the yield
of rosemary varies according to geographical
location
The chemical components of the essential
oil of R officinalis showed that α-pinene
camphene eucalyptol and camphor are the
major products (Jordan et al 2013 Mugnaini
et al 2012 Sienkiewicz et al 2013
Matsuzaki et al 2013 Derwich et al 2011
Fadli et al 2011 Jalali-Heravi et al 2011
Issabeagloo et al 2012 Hussain et al 2011
Mudasir et al 2012 Verma et al 2011 Yang
et al 2011 Sui et al 2012 Aderiana et al
2013 Lograda et al 2013)
Based on the majority of Rosemary
components the authors identified three
chemotypes (Issabeagloo et al 2012 Mudasir
et al 2012 Sui et al 2012 Mugnaini et al
2012 Jordan et al 2013 Sienkiewicz et al
2013 Matsuzaki et al 2013 Aderiana et al
2013) the same chemotypes are found in our
samples with the presence of five variants The
eastern Algeria samples showed an average
antibacterial activity on all tested bacteria the
same observations were mentioned in the
literature (Lopez et al 2005 Probuseenivasan
et al 2006 Fabio et al 2007 Jiang et al
2011 Sienkiewicz et al 2013) This may be
partly due to the fact that the essential oils
contained more oxygenated compounds and
these classes of compounds have been proved
to possess strong antibacterial activities (Deba
et al 2008)
Generally the essential oils of R officinalis
have shown broad spectra of activity against
the tested microorganisms the same findings
were made by Gachkar et al (2007) on some
species of the genus The antimicrobial
property of the essential oil of R officinalis is
attributed to the presence of α-pinene 18-
cineole camphor verbinone and borneol
(Santoyo et al 2005) the quantities of these
compounds were very high in our oils
CONCLUSION
Six variants of Rosemary chemotypes
localized in eastern Algeria were used in the
determination of the antimicrobial activity
against the gram positive and negative bacteria
by the disc diffusion method The essential oil
obtained by hydrodistillation was more active
against microorganisms than the antibiotic
gentamicine The essential oils showed
inhibition zones against all micro-organisms
tested The Results indicate that essential oils
of Rosmarinus officinalis present significant
antimicrobial activity This antimicrobial
activity can be linked to its higher content of
oxygenated compounds This study provides
additional data of antibacterial activity of the
essential oils of R officinalis growing in
Algeria
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The work was supported by Algerian
MESRS and Chemical Laboratory of
carbohydrates Heterocyclic of Clermont
Ferrant France
REFERENCES
Abutbul S Golan-Goldhirsh A Barazani O
Zilberg D (2004) Use of Rosmarinus
officinalis as a treatment against
Streptococcus iniae in tilapia
(Oreochromis sp) Aquaculture 238
97ndash105
Adriana M Ojeda-Sana C M van Baren M A
Elechosa M A Juarez S M (2013) New
insights into antibacterial and
antioxidant activities of rosemary
essential oils and their main
components Food Control 31 189ndash
195
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Altinier G Sosa S Aquino RP Mencherini T
Loggia RD Tubaro A (2007)
Characterization of topical
antiinflammatory compounds in
Rosmarinus officinalis L J Agric
Food Chem 55 1718ndash1723
Angioni A Barra A Cereti E Barile D
Coisson JD Arlorio M Dessi S
Coroneo V Cabras P (2004) Chemical
composition plant genetic differences
antimicrobial and antifungal activity
investigation of the essential of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry 52
3530ndash3535
Apostolides Nelly Arnold Marc El Beyrouthy
Wissal Dhifi Samir Najm Fabrice
Cazier Wafaa Najem Madonna Labaki
Antoine AbouKaiumls (2013) Chemical
Composition of Aerial Parts of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Growing Wild in Lebanon Journal of
Essential Oil Bearing Plants 16(2)
274ndash282
Atti-Santos Ana Cristina Marcelo Rossato
Gabriel Fernandes Pauletti Luciana
Duarte Rota Juarez Ciro Rech Marcia
Regina Pansera Fabiana Agostini
Luciana Atti Serafini and Patrick
Moyna (2005) Physico-chemical
Evaluation of Rosmarinus officinalis L
Essential Oils Brazilian Archives of
Biology and Technology 48(6) 1035ndash
1039
Ayadi S Jerribi C Abderrabba M (2011)
Extraction et eacutetude des huiles
essentielles de Rosmarinus Officinalis
cueillie dans trois reacutegions diffeacuterentes de
la Tunisie Journal de la Socieacuteteacute
Algeacuterienne de Chimie 21(1) 25ndash33
Bekkara F Atik Bousmaha L Taleb Bendiab S
A Boti J B Casanova J (2007)
Composition chimique de lrsquohuile
essentielle de Rosmarinus officinalis L
poussant agrave lrsquoeacutetat spontaneacute et cultiveacute de
la reacutegion de Tlemcen Biologie amp Santeacute
7(1) 6ndash11
Bendeddouche M S Benhassaini H Hazem Z
Romane A (2011) Essential oil analysis
and antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
tournefortii from Algeria Nat Prod
Commun 6 1511ndash1514
Bozin B Mimica-Dukic N Samojlik I Jovin E
(2007) Antimicrobial and antioxidant
properties of rosemary and sage
(Rosmarinus officinalis L and Salvia
officinalis L Lamiaceae) essential oils
Journal of Agricultural and Food
Chemistry 55 7879ndash7885
Calin-Sanchez Angel Antoni Szumny Adam
Figiel Klaudiusz Jałoszynski Maciej
Adamski Angel A Carbonell-
Barrachin (2011) Effects of vacuum
level and microwave power on
rosemary volatile composition during
vacuumndashmicrowave drying Journal of
Food Engineering 103 219ndash227
Cheung S Tai J (2001) Anti-proliferative and
antioxidant properties of rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis Oncol Rep 17
1525ndash1531
Deba F Xuan TD Yasudaa M Tawata S
(2008) Chemical composition and
antioxidant antibacterial and antifungal
activities of the essential oils from
Bidens pilosa Linn var Radiata Food
Control 19 346ndash352
Derwich E Benziane Z Chabir R (2011)
Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of
Morocco Chemical Composition of
essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis
and Juniperus Phoenicea International
Journal of Applied Biology and
Pharmaceutical Technology 2(1) 145ndash
153
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Diaz-Maroto MC Perez-Coello MS Sanchez-
Palomo E Gonzalez-Vinas MA (2007)
Impact of drying and storage time on
sensory characteristics of rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis L) Journal of
Sensory Studies 22 34ndash48
Fabio A Cermelli C Fabio G Nicoletti P
Quaglio P (2007) Screening of the
antibacterial effects of a variety of
essential oils on microorganisms
responsible for respiratory infections
Phytother Res 21 374ndash377
Fadli Mariam Jacqueline Chevalier Asmaa
Saad Nour-Eddine Mezrioui Lahcen
Hassani Jean-Marie Pages (2011)
Essential oils from Moroccan plants as
potential chemosensitisers restoring
antibiotic activity in resistant Gram-
negative bacteria International Journal
of Antimicrobial Agents 38 325ndash330
Faixov ZR Faix S (2008) Biological effects of
Rosmary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
essensial oil (A Review) Folia
Veterinaria 5(3-4) 135ndash139
Gachkar L Yadegari D Rezaei MB
Taghizadeh M Astaneh SA Rasooli I
(2007) Chemical and biological
characteristics of Cuminum cyminum
and Rosmarinus officinalis essential
oils Food Chemistry 102 898ndash904
Hussain Abdullah I Farooq Anwar Poonam S
Nigam Satyajit D Sarker John E
Moore Juluri R Rao Anisha Mazumdar
(2011) Antibacterial activity of some
Lamiaceae essential oils using resazurin
as an indicator of cell growth LWT
Food Science and Technology 44
1199ndash1206
Issabeagloo Eilyad Parviz Kermanizadeh
Mohammad Taghizadieh Reza Forughi
(2012) Antimicrobial effects of
rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L)
essential oils against Staphylococcus
spp African Journal of Microbiology
Research 6(23) 5039ndash5042
Jalali-Heravi Mehdi Rudabeh Sadat Moazeni
Hassan Sereshti (2011) Analysis of
Iranian rosemary essential oil
Application of gas chromatographyndash
mass spectrometry combined with
chemometrics Journal of
Chromatography A 1218 2569ndash2576
Jiang Y Wu N Fu Y-J Wang W Luo M Zhao
CJ Zu YG Liu XL (2011) Chemical
composition and antimicrobial activity
of the essential oil of Rosemary
Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 32 63ndash
68
Jordan MJ Lax V Martinez C Aouissat M
Sotomayor JA 2011 Chemical
intraspecific variability and chemotypes
determination of Rosmarinus officinalis
L in the region of Murcia Acta
Horticulturae 925 109ndash114
Jordan MJ Vanesa Lax Maria C Rota Susana
Loran Joseacute A Sotomayor (2013)
Effect of bioclimatic area on the
essential oil composition and
antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L Food Control 30 463ndash
468
Kadri Adel Zied Zarai Ines BenChobba
Ahmed Beacutekir Neacuteji Gharsallah
Mohamed Damak Radhouane Gdoura
(2011) Chemical constituents and
antioxidant properties of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil cultivated
from the South-Western of Tunisia
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research
5(29) 6502ndash6508
Lopez P Sanchez C Battle R Nerin C (2005)
Soilid- and vapour-phase antimicrobial
activities of six essential oils
Susceptibility of selected foodborne
bacterial and fungal strains Agric Food
Chem 53 6939ndash6946
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Maistro EL Mota SF Lima EB Bernardes
BM Goulart FC (2010) Genotoxicity
and mutagenicity of Rosmarinus
officinalis (Labiatae) essential oil in
mammalian cells in vivo Genetics and
Molecular Research 9(4) 2113ndash2122
Martins MR Tinoco MT Almeida AS Cruz-
Morais J (2012) Chemical
Composition Antioxidant and
Antimicrobial properties of three
Essential oils from Portuguese Flora
Journal of Pharmacognosy 3(1) 39ndash44
Masuda T Inaba Y Takeda Y (2001)
Antioxidant mechanism of carnosic
acid structural identification of two
oxidation products J Agric Food
Chem 49 5560ndash5565
Matsuzaki Yusuke Toshiyuki Tsujisawa
Tatsuji Nishihara Mari Nakamura
Yasuaki Kakinoki (2013) Antifungal
activity of chemotype essential oils
from rosemary against Candida
albicans Open Journal of Stomatology
3 176ndash182
Mudasir A Tantry Syed Shabir Reehana Khan
Afsha Habib Seema Akbar (2012)
Determination of Essential Oil
Composition of Rosmarinus officinalis
Growing as Exotic species in Kashmir
Valley Chemistry of Natural
Compounds 47(6) 1012ndash1014
Mugnaini L Nardoni S Pinto L Pistelli L
Leonardi M Pisseri F Mancianti F
(2012) In vitro and in vivo antifungal
activity of some essential oils against
feline isolates of Microsporum canis
Journal de Mycologie Meacutedicale 22
179ndash184
Pino JA Estrarron M Fuentes V (1998)
Essential Oil of Rosemary (Rosmarinus
Officinalis L) from Cuba J Essent Oil
Res 10 111
Poeckel D Greiner C Verhoff M Rau O
Tausch L Heornig C Steinhilber D
Schubert-Zsilavecz M Werz O (2008)
Carnosic acid and carnosol potently
inhibit human 5-lipoxygenase and
suppress pro-inflammatory responses of
stimulated human polymorphonuclear
leukocytes Biochem Pharmacol 76
91ndash97
Prabuseenivasan S Jayakumar M Ignacimuthu
S (2006) In vitro antibacterial activity
of some plant essential oils BMC
Complement Altern Med 6 39
Reichling J Schnitzler P Suschke U Saller R
(2009) Essential oils of aromatic plants
with antibacterial antifungal antiviral
and cytotoxic properties-An overview
Forsch Komplementmed 16 79ndash90
Salido S Altarejos J Nogueras M Sanchez A
Luque P (2003) Chemical composition
and seasonal variations of rosemary oil
from Southern Spain Journal of
Essentials Oil Research 15 10ndash14
Santoyo S Cavero S Jaime L Ibanez E
Senorans FJ Reglero G (2005)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil obtained via
supercritical fluid extraction Journal of
Food Protection 68(4) 790ndash795
Sienkiewicz M Kowalczyk E Wasiela M
(2012) Recent patents regarding
essential oils and the significance of
their constituents in human health and
treatment Recent Pat Anti Infect Drug
Discov 7 133ndash140
Sienkiewicz Monika Monika Lysakowska
Marta Pastuszka Wojciech Bienias
Edward Kowalczyk (2013) The
Potential of Use Basil and Rosemary
Essential Oils as Effective Antibacterial
Agents Molecules 18 9334ndash9351
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Sui Xiaoyu Tingting Liu Chunhui Ma Lei
Yang Yuangang Zu Lin Zhang Hua
Wang (2012) Microwave irradiation to
pretreat rosemary (Rosmarinus
officinalis L) for maintaining
antioxidant content during storage and
to extract essential oil simultaneously
Food Chemistry 131 1399ndash1405
Szumny Antoni Adam Figiel Antonio
Gutierrez-Ortiz Angel A Carbonell
Barrachina (2010) Composition of
rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus
officinalis) as affected by drying
method Journal of Food Engineering
97 253ndash260
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre
Chalard Gilles Figueredo (2013)
Characteristics of Essential oils of
Rosmarinus officinalis from eastern
Algeria Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med 2(12) 794ndash807
Varela F Navarrete P Cristobal R Fanlo M
Melero R Sotomayor J A (2009)
Variability in the chemical composition
of wild Rosmarinus officinalis L Acta
Horticulturae 826 167ndash174
Verma Ram S Laiqur Rahman Sunita Mishra
Rajesh K V Amit Chauhan Anand
Singh (2011) Changes in essential oil
content and composition of leaf and leaf
powder of Rosmarinus officinalis cv
CIM-Hariyali during storage Maejo Int
J Sci Technol 5(02) 181ndash190
Viuda-Martos M El Gendy A E-N G S
Sendra E Fernandez-Lopez J Abd El
Razik K A Omer E A Jose A Perez-
Alvarez (2010) Chemical composition
and antioxidant and anti-Listeria
activities of essential oils obtained from
some Egyptian plants Journal
Agriculture Food Chemistry 58(16)
9063ndash9070
Wang Wei Nan Li Meng Luo Yuangang Zu
Thomas Efferth (2012) Antibacterial
Activity and Anticancer Activity of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Compared to That of Its Main
Components Molecules 17 2704ndash
2713
Yang Jiang Nan Wu Yu-Jie Fu Wei Wang
Meng Luo Chun-Jian Zhao Yuan-
Gang Zu Xiao-Lei Liu (2011)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of the essential oil
of Rosemary Environmental
Toxicology and Pharmacology 32 63ndash
68
Zaouali Y Messaoud C BenSalah A Boussaid
M (2005) Oil composition variability
among populations in relationship with
their ecological areas in Tunisian
Rosmarinus officinalis L Flavour
Fragrance J 20 512ndash520
Source of Support Algerian MESRS and
Chemical Laboratory of carbohydrates
Heterocyclic of Clermont Ferrant France
Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS
SALEM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU INDIA
Rekha R
1 Senthil Kumar S
2
1 2PG and Research Department of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and Science for Women
(Autonomous) Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal(DT) Tamil Nadu India
Corresponding Author E- Mail rekha87rajagmailcom
Received 26042014 Revised 24052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
An ethno-botanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills Southern
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu India during November 2012ndashMarch 2014 This study
mainly focused on the plants used by the Malayali tribes for various purposes (Construction
materials house hold implements brushing fuel wood agriculture tools religious decorative to
ward off evil spirits) through standardized questionnaires interviews and discussions with very old
and knowledgeable tribals A total of 84 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 42 families were
recorded in the present study These extremely important plants should be taken into account and
steps have to be taken to increase their production for future benefit
KEY WORDS Yercaud hills Malayali tribes Ethno-botany
Research Article
Cite this article
Rekha R Senthil Kumar S (2014) ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS SALEM DISTRICT
TAMIL NADU INDIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 243ndash251
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
Plants are used against a number of
diseases by many indigenous communities in
traditional medicine plants are also used in
building materials fodder weapons and other
commodities of economical importance The
tribal people are economically backward ethnic
groups and constitute separate socio-cultural
groups Many local and indigenous
communities in Asian countries meet their
basic needs from the forest products they
manufacture and sell based on their traditional
knowledge (John Kennedy 2006) Yercaud
hills have been gifted with enormous number
of plant species Tribal people living in
Yercaud hills depend on these plants for their
survival These plants play a vital role in their
life as these people depend on the forest wealth
to meet their needs Their economic condition
is determined by these plants Yercaud hill
range is situated to the north-east part of
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu
India with rich vegetation and it covers an area
of 150 square miles (390 Sq km) It lies
between 11deg45rsquo56rdquo N latitude and 78deg17rsquo55rdquo E
longitude The temperature ranges from 13degC
to 29degC on the peaks and 25degC to 40degC at the
foot hills The average annual rainfall is around
1500ndash1750 mm The indigenous people
inhabiting Yercaud hill are called Malayali the
oldest group of the branch of the ethnic group
in South India Malayali simply means a hill
person an appellation distinguishing them from
the people of plains In physical appearance
they scarcely differ from the people of plains
They speak Tamil dialect of their own They
are supposed to be descendants of
Kanchipuram vellalar They appear to have
migrated from Kanchipuram (a town near
Chennai Tamil Nadu India) between seventh
and eleventh centuries The tribals are mostly
working as casual laborers in coffee estates
They are cultivating food grains fruits and
vegetable (Alagesaboopathi et al 1996)
Malayali tribals use more number of plants for
various purposes like for making construction
materials house hold implements brushing
plants fuel wood agriculture tools religious
decorative to ward off evil spirits etc This
study enumerates such useful plants which are
used by Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills
Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu India
Data Collection
Frequent field surveys were carried out in
Yercaud hills in different seasons during
November 2012ndashMarch 2014 Information on the plants was collected through personal
interview with village headman farmers and
other knowledgeable tribals The interviews
were conducted in the local language (Tamil)
the information includes local names plant
parts used and method of utilization was
gathered from them with regard to each plant
The collected information was recorded on
field note books and plants were identified
using the Flora of the Presidency of Madras
(Gamble 1935) and Flora of Tamil Nadu-
Carnatic (Matthew 1983) Plant specimens
were deposited for future references in the
Botany department Vivekanandha College of
Arts and Sciences for women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal
(DT) Tamil Nadu India
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The present study focused mainly on the
role of non timber forest products in the
livelihood of Malayali tribes of Yercaud hills
Salem district Tamil Nadu India During the
study period 84 plant species belonging to 70
genera and 42 families were identified to be
utilized by Malayali tribes (Table 1) The
reported plants were arranged to their
Botanical Name Vernacular name as recorded
during field work habit and uses Plants
utilized by Malayali tribes can be classified
under various categories like fuel wood plants
house construction and house hold implements
agriculture tools religious importance plants
plants used to ward off evil afflictions hair
care and toothbrush The plants listed mainly
belong to Rubiaceae (6 species) followed by
Fabaceae and Moraceae (5 species)
Mimosaceae Rutaceae and Poaceae (4
species) Combretaceae Anacardiaceae
Euphorbiaceae Apocynaceae (3 species)
Asparagaceae Alangiaceae Asclepidaceae
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Meliaceae Caesalpiniaceae Verbenaceae
Arecaceae Ebenaceae Lamiaceae Tiliaceae
Myrtaceae and Dipterocarpaceae (2 species)
Araceae Acanthaceae Annonaceae
Papaveraceae Bambusaceae Borangiaceae
Cyperaceae Droseraceae Proteaceae
Convolvulaceae Gyrocarpeaceae Ulmaceae
Malvaceae Lythraceae Nyctaginaceae
Moringaceae Salicaceae Araliaceae
Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species) From
the study it was observed that 51 taxa are trees
(60) 23 taxa are herbs (20) and 10 taxa are
shrub (12)
Fire wood plants
One of the most important non timber
forest products for daily life is fuel wood the
only means of energy source of Malayali
tribes The fuel wood species are collected
from the forest near to the hamlets The species
preferred for fire wood to their comfortable
availability and inflammability According to
Malayali tribes which are not considered as a
source of good timber are treated as fire wood
The fire wood utilized by Malayali tribes
belong to 15 species 15 genera and 10
families they are Albizzia lebbeck Benth
Bauhinia tomentosa L Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb Chomelia astiactica OKze
Diospyros montana Roxb Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq Holopetela integrifolia
(Roxb) Planch Mallotus philippensis M Arg
Moringa oleifera Lamk Plectronia didyma
Kurz Salix tetrasperma Roxb Shorea robusta
Roth Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels Terminalia
bellerica Roxb and Zanthoxylum budrunga
Wall
House construction and house hold
implements
Malayali tribes have good Knowledge to
use natural resources specifically plants for
their day-to-day life Malayali tribes use
Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq leaves to make
meal plate Phoenix sylverstris Roxb leaves to
make broom stick Cyperus rotundus L
Ophiuros exalatus OKtz Oryza sativa L
Sorghum vulgare L are used for roofing and
thatching Mature stem of Cassia fistula Linn
Chloroxylon swietenia DC Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl and Terminalia
chebula Retz were used to make pounder
Mature stem of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam is
used to make churn-staff woody stem of
Mangifera indica L is used to make wood
grinder leaves of Cassia fistula Linn is used
for ripening of fruits Gmelina arborea Roxb
mature stem is used as a stick for musical
instrument the fibers from the leaf fibers of
Agave americana L and Agave angustifolia
Haw are used for making coir the culm of
Bambusa arundinacea Willd is used for
making various types of baskets leaves of
Corypha umbracalifer L is used for making
baskets and decoration in ceremonies
Wood forms an important construction
material for houses cattle sheds and temporary
settlements in the area Windows doors and
cots were chiefly made up of Albizia
odoratissima Benth Cleistanthus Collins
Benth Cordia wallichii G Don Dalberiga
lanceolaria L Diospyros edenum JKoeing
Gardenia resinifera Roth Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br Melia composite Willd
Shorea roxburghii Roxb Tectona grandis
Linn Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall and
Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk
Agricultural implements
For making agricultural implements four
species were used such as Chloroxylon
swietenia DC and Bumbusa arundinacea Willd
were used for making handle of axe and woody
stem of Anogeissus latifolia Wall and Tectona
grandis Linn is made in the shape of a harrow
by Malayali tribes
Plants used for Religious purposes
Ceremonial plant use is of principal
importance in daily Malayali tribe life and
many species have a specific ceremonial
significance generally associated with
blessings age-rites and witchcraft Some plants
are used as offerings to god among these tribes
Asclepias curassavica L Cassia montana
Heyne Clerodendrum serratum L and
Plumeria rubra L flowers are used in religious
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
practice to worship God Holarrhena
pubescens (Buch-Ham) WallexGDon
Wrightia tinctoria RBr mature stem are used
in all traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions
Malayali tribes believe that some of the
plants bring good fortune and keep off evil
spirits The exudates of Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb and Semecarpus
anacardium L are used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect them from evils
afflictions brush body with leaves and root of
Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake
bite brush body with leaves of Schefflera
racemosa Harms protect from evils afflictions
roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Aitf is
stitched together and then worn around the hip
to protect from evils afflictions rhizome of the
Acorus calamus Linn is made into pieces and
stitched together and worn around the neck of a
new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions
Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate
sexual desire ie Abrus pulchellus Wall
Alangium hexapetalum Lam Canthium
parviflorum Lam Drosera indica L Evolvulus
alsinoides Linn Ficus bengalensis Linn
Grewia tenax (forssk) fiori Mimosa pudica
Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn Ocimum canum
Sims and Randia dumetorum Lam
Plants used as Toothbrush
Malayali tribals generally use the young
twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn
Azadirachta indica AJuss Ficus glomerata
Roxb Ficus religosa Linn Jatropha curcas L
and Psidium guajava Linn areial root of Ficus
benghalensis Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn
rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula Retz
fruit powder are used as tooth powder
Plants used in Hair Nourishment
Heredity older age lack of nutrition
infections (such as worms lice scabies
dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic
products (soaps shampoos and hair oils) may
cause hair loss dandruff discoloration of hairs
Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant
resources for hair disorders For example
Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a
shampoo seeds of Argemone mexicana root of
Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening
the hairs flowers of Annona squamosa amp fruit
of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff
and kill lice whole plant parts of Andrographis
echioides flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia
calendulacea prevented hair loss
Table 1 List of plants used by Malayali Tribal people for NTFP in Yercaud hills
S
No
Botanical Name Vernacular Name
(Tamil)
Family Parts used Purposes
1 Abrus pulchellus
Wall
Vellaikuntumani Fabaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
2 Acorus calamus
Linn
Vasambu Araceae Rhizome Rhizome made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the neck of new born
baby to get rid from evils
afflictions
3 Agave americana L Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
4 Agave angustifolia
Haw
Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
5 Alangium
hexapetalum Lam
Earualangi Alangiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
6 Alangium salvifolium
Linn
Alangal Alangiaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
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Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
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Mycology CABI PublishingNew
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Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
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IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
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Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
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Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
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Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
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2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
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289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
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Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
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Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
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ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
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Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
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rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis
contains mainly monoterpenes (Angioni et al
2004 Diaz-Maroto et al 2007) Principal
volatile compounds are camphor and
eucalyptol followed by borneol verbenone α-
pinene and camphene (Pino et al 1998
Zaouali et al 2005 Diaz-Maroto et al 2007
Calin-Sanchez et al 2011 Apostolides et al
2013 Lograda et al 2013) The volatile
compounds from rosemary samples could be
grouped in chemical families therefore the
predominant group was monoterpenoids (Bozin
et al 2007 Szumny et al 2010 Calin-
Sanchez et al 2011)
The chemical composition and seasonal
variations in rosemary oil were reported from
southern Spain (Salido et al 2003 Jordan et
al 2011 2013) All the samples studied by
Salido et al (2003) belonging to chemotypes
(α-pinene - 1 8-cineole - camphor) Jordan et
al (2013) identified five chemotypes based on
α-pinene - 1 8-cineole - camphor The
chemical polymorphism of the essential oil of
wild rosemary Spanish populations has been
reported and different chemotypes were defined
according to the geographical area (Varela et
al 2009) In a previous work five chemotypes
distributed in eastern Algeria were identified
(Lograda et al 2013)
Rosmarinus officinalis oil is widely used in
cosmetic food and pharmaceutical industries as
a fragrance component of soaps creams
lotions and perfumes Although it is popular
potential harmful side-effects of this oil have
been described The genotoxicity and
mutagenicity are confirmed by Maistro et al
(2010) The rosemary leaves are used in fried
chicken (Viuda-Martos et al 2010) The
rosemary essential oils have a number of
beneficial properties as natural preservatives in
cosmetics toiletries drugs and food products
(Bakkali et al 2008 Reichling et al 2009)
Sienkiewicz et al 2012)
The anti-inflammatory property of
rosemary extracts was reported by Masuda et
al (2001) Bozin et al (2007) Altinier et al
(2007) Poeckel et al (2008) Viuda-Martos et
al (2010) The interest was also generated due
to the anticarcinogenic activity (Cheung and
Tai 2001) The essential oil of R officinalis
showed antimytotic and antifungal activity
(Yang et al 2011 Mugnaini et al 2012) All
extracts of R officinalis were effective in
inhibiting bacterial growth (Abutbul et al
2004 Bozin et al 2007) Antimicrobial and
antioxidant activities of rosemary are
demonstrated (Faixova and Faix 2008 Kadri et
al 2011)
According to Lopez et al (2005) the oils
from R officinalis have an antibacterial
potential against the Gram-positive and Gram-
negative bacteria The authors presented a
detailed analysis of the tested oils and their
ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria The
rosemary oil has an antibacterial effect on a
number of microorganisms responsible for
respiratory infections (Fabio et al 2007)
Rosemary oil was found to demonstrate
antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli
strains with different patterns of resistance
(Probuseenivasan et al 2006 Sienkiewicz et
al 2013) The essential oil from R tournefortii
exhibited strong antibacterial activity against
Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and Staphylococcus aureus (Bendeddouche et
al 2011) All chemotypes of R officinalis
studied possessed antibacterial activities
(Wang et al 2012)
Though the flowering aerial part of this
plant commonly is used because of its
antiseptic properties heretofore there is no
report that investigated the antimicrobial
activity of this plant in eastern Algeria This
study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial
activities of the chemotype essential oils of
wild plants of R officinalis largely used in
Algeria obtained from samples grown in
Eastern Algeria as well as to validate its
traditionally uses
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Figure 1 Populations of Rosmarinus officinalis studied
MATERIALS amp METHODS
Plant material
Rosmarinus officinalis is collected from
five localities in eastern Algeria Kherrata
(Bedjaia) Boutaleb (Setif) Bibans (Bourdj
Bou-Arriridj) Agmeroual and Nrsquogaous
(Batna) and Boussacircada (MrsquoSila) (Figure 1)
The plant identification was performed by Dr
Lograda Takia The voucher specimens are
preserved in the Herbarium at the Department
of Biology and Ecology Vegetal Setif
University Algeria Aerial parts were collected
during the flowering stage in October 2013
Extraction of the essential oil
The air-dried aerial parts of the six
populations were subjected to hydro-distillation
for 3 h with distilled water using a Clevenger-
type apparatus The oil obtained was collected
and dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and
stored in screw capped glass vials in a
refrigerator at 4ndash5degC prior to the analysis
Antibacterial Activity
The antimicrobial activities of the essential
oils were evaluated against three Gram positive
(Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 MRSA
(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923) and six
Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli
ATCC 25922 Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp Serratia liquefaciens ATCC
27592 Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756
Shigella sp) The bacterial inoculums was
prepared from overnight broth culture in
physiological saline (08 of NaCl) in order to
obtain an optical density ranging from 008ndash01
at 625 nm Muller-Hinton agar (MH agar) and
MH agar supplemented with 5 sheep blood
for fastidious bacteria were poured in Petri
dishes solidified and surface dried before
inoculation Sterile discs (6 mm Φ) were placed
on inoculated agars by test bacteria filled with
10 μl of mother solution and diluted essential
oil (11 12 14 and 18 vv of DMSO)
DMSO was used as negative control Bacterial
growth inhibition was determined as the
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
diameter of the inhibition zones around the
discs All tests were performed in triplicate
Then Petri dishes were incubated at 37degC
during 18 to 24h aerobically After incubation
inhibition zone diameters were measured and
documented
RESULTS
The hydro-distillation of the essential oil of
R officinalis gave a viscous liquid with a
whitish colour The average yield of essential
oil of the samples is 023 the highest rate
was observed in the essential oil of Kherrata
population (035) while the population of
Agmeroual was characterised by the lowest
yield (010) R officinalis of eastern Algeria
includes several chemotypes (Table 1) The
first chemotype to eucalyptol has two variants
the first variant (E-Ca-αP-C) characterizes
Kherrata population the second chemotype (E-
αP-Ca-C) characterizes the Bibans population
The difference of these two chemotype variants
is the concentration of Eucalyptol and camphor
The second chemotype to camphor had three
variants the variant (Ca-C-αP-E) characterized
Boussacircada population Agmeroual population
contained the variant (Ca-αP-C-E) while the
third variant (Ca-αP-E-C) of this chemotype
was found in the region of Ngaous The third
chemotype to α-pinene (αP-Ca-E-C) in R
officinalis of eastern Algeria characterized the
population of Boutaleb
The antibacterial activity of the essential oil
chemotypes was evaluated against nine bacteria
(Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 MRSA
(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923
Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 Pseudomonas
syringae Salmonella sp Serratia liquefaciens
ATCC 27592 Serratia marcescens ATCC
14756 and Shigella sp) The disc diameters of
inhibition zone of essential oils for the
microorganisms tested are grouped in Table 2
The results showed that the essential oils have
inhibited the growth of bacterial strains The
diameters of the inhibition zone are between (0
and 40 mm) these diameters depended on the
sensitivity of the bacteria tested
The essential oil chemotypes of Kherrata
and the Bibans regions generally exhibited
antibacterial activity against the
microorganismsrsquo tested with an inhibition
diameter between 7 and 15 mm The
chemotype of Bibans populations had a high
activity with a dilution frac12 on Staphylococcus
aureus with a diameter of 40 mm (Figure 2)
The camphor chemotype with three variants
exhibits a moderate antibacterial activity with
an inhibition diameter (7ndash20 mm) The
essential oil is active on Enterobacter cloacea
with different dilutions The dilution 12 of
Agmeroual chemotype inhibited Escherichia
coli strongly with a diameter of 20 mm and no
effect was seen on Pseudomonas syringae
(Figure 3)
The chemotype of Boutaleb (α-pinene
variant) had an inhibitory effect with an
inhibition diameter (7ndash15 mm) This
chemotype is active on Enterobacter cloacae
and no activity on Pseudomonas syringae in the
frac14 dilution (Figure 4)
Table 1 Volatile profile of Rosemary essential oils selected by chemotype (Lograda et al 2013)
Populations Kherrata Bibans Agmeroual Ngaous Boussaacircda Boutaleb
Yield (vv)
035 03 02 01 025 015
Chemotypes Eucalyptol Camphor α-pinene
E-Ca-αP-
C
E-αP-Ca-C Ca-αP-C-E Ca-αP-E-C Ca-C-αP-
E
αP-Ca-C-
E Eucalyptol 355 422 54 121 66 88
α-pinene 114 138 169 136 151 252
Camphor 145 91 388 169 427 241
Camphene 80 53 138 37 177 227 Chemotype classification in relation with the chemical compounds found in rosemary samples
E = eucalyptol αP = α-pinene Ca = camphor C = camphene
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Table 2 Inhibition diameter (mm) of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil chemotype
Populations Kherrata Bibans Boussacircada Agmeroual Nrsquogaous Boutaleb
Chemotypes E-Ca-αp-C E-αp-Ca-C Ca-C-αp-E Ca-αp-C-E Ca-αp-E-C αp-Ca-E-C
Bacteria G Dilution Dilution Dilution
frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18
1 14 15 13 11 20 10 11 10 9 11 20 9 8 8 8 12 10 12 10
2 0 12 12 9 15 11 10 10 8 9 11 10 8 8 7 14 13 10 10
3 14 10 9 9 11 15 10 9 7 12 12 8 8 10 12 14 15 8 11
4 10 12 13 12 12 9 10 19 7 10 0 0 0 10 9 9 7 0 11
5 16 9 8 10 13 7 12 10 10 10 7 7 7 10 12 11 10 8 10
6 10 11 8 14 15 9 13 15 10 15 13 10 11 10 8 9 14 13 12
7 12 8 8 10 10 9 8 9 12 10 15 11 10 8 7 7 12 10 13
8 15 11 9 12 40 15 10 10 15 15 8 7 0 15 12 10 10 8 10
9 25 10 9 12 12 13 13 20 15 12 20 12 15 10 13 11 11 11 10
1 Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 2 Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 3 MRSA = Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus 4 Pseudomonas syringae 5 Salmonella sp 6 Serratia liquefaciens ATCC 27592 7
Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756 8 Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 9 Shigella sp
G = Gentamicine E = eucalyptol αP = α-pinene Ca = camphor C = camphene
Figure 2 Antibacterial activity of Kherrata and Bibans chemotypes
G frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18
Dilution
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Inhib
itio
n d
iam
ete
r (m
m)
E-Ca-ap-C
KherrataE-ap-Ca- C
Bibans
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Figure 3 Antibacterial activity of Boussaada Agmeroual and Nrsquogaous Chemotypes
Figure 4 Antibacterial activity of Boutaleb Chemotype
Gentamicine
frac12
frac14
18
frac12
frac14
18
frac12
frac14
18
Dilution
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26In
hib
itio
n d
iam
ete
r (m
m)
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
Ca-C-ap-E Boussacircada Ca-ap-C-E AgmeroualCa-ap-E-C Nrsquogaous
G frac12 frac14 18
Dilution
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
Inh
ibit
ion
dia
met
er (
mm
)
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
ap-Ca-E-C Boutaleb
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
DISCUSSION
Our returns of the essential oil are low
compared to those of the literature This yield is
between 06 and 08 (Atti-Santos et al 2005
Bekkara et al 2007) Ayadi et al (2011) found
a yield (071ndash2) which indicates that the yield
of rosemary varies according to geographical
location
The chemical components of the essential
oil of R officinalis showed that α-pinene
camphene eucalyptol and camphor are the
major products (Jordan et al 2013 Mugnaini
et al 2012 Sienkiewicz et al 2013
Matsuzaki et al 2013 Derwich et al 2011
Fadli et al 2011 Jalali-Heravi et al 2011
Issabeagloo et al 2012 Hussain et al 2011
Mudasir et al 2012 Verma et al 2011 Yang
et al 2011 Sui et al 2012 Aderiana et al
2013 Lograda et al 2013)
Based on the majority of Rosemary
components the authors identified three
chemotypes (Issabeagloo et al 2012 Mudasir
et al 2012 Sui et al 2012 Mugnaini et al
2012 Jordan et al 2013 Sienkiewicz et al
2013 Matsuzaki et al 2013 Aderiana et al
2013) the same chemotypes are found in our
samples with the presence of five variants The
eastern Algeria samples showed an average
antibacterial activity on all tested bacteria the
same observations were mentioned in the
literature (Lopez et al 2005 Probuseenivasan
et al 2006 Fabio et al 2007 Jiang et al
2011 Sienkiewicz et al 2013) This may be
partly due to the fact that the essential oils
contained more oxygenated compounds and
these classes of compounds have been proved
to possess strong antibacterial activities (Deba
et al 2008)
Generally the essential oils of R officinalis
have shown broad spectra of activity against
the tested microorganisms the same findings
were made by Gachkar et al (2007) on some
species of the genus The antimicrobial
property of the essential oil of R officinalis is
attributed to the presence of α-pinene 18-
cineole camphor verbinone and borneol
(Santoyo et al 2005) the quantities of these
compounds were very high in our oils
CONCLUSION
Six variants of Rosemary chemotypes
localized in eastern Algeria were used in the
determination of the antimicrobial activity
against the gram positive and negative bacteria
by the disc diffusion method The essential oil
obtained by hydrodistillation was more active
against microorganisms than the antibiotic
gentamicine The essential oils showed
inhibition zones against all micro-organisms
tested The Results indicate that essential oils
of Rosmarinus officinalis present significant
antimicrobial activity This antimicrobial
activity can be linked to its higher content of
oxygenated compounds This study provides
additional data of antibacterial activity of the
essential oils of R officinalis growing in
Algeria
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The work was supported by Algerian
MESRS and Chemical Laboratory of
carbohydrates Heterocyclic of Clermont
Ferrant France
REFERENCES
Abutbul S Golan-Goldhirsh A Barazani O
Zilberg D (2004) Use of Rosmarinus
officinalis as a treatment against
Streptococcus iniae in tilapia
(Oreochromis sp) Aquaculture 238
97ndash105
Adriana M Ojeda-Sana C M van Baren M A
Elechosa M A Juarez S M (2013) New
insights into antibacterial and
antioxidant activities of rosemary
essential oils and their main
components Food Control 31 189ndash
195
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Altinier G Sosa S Aquino RP Mencherini T
Loggia RD Tubaro A (2007)
Characterization of topical
antiinflammatory compounds in
Rosmarinus officinalis L J Agric
Food Chem 55 1718ndash1723
Angioni A Barra A Cereti E Barile D
Coisson JD Arlorio M Dessi S
Coroneo V Cabras P (2004) Chemical
composition plant genetic differences
antimicrobial and antifungal activity
investigation of the essential of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry 52
3530ndash3535
Apostolides Nelly Arnold Marc El Beyrouthy
Wissal Dhifi Samir Najm Fabrice
Cazier Wafaa Najem Madonna Labaki
Antoine AbouKaiumls (2013) Chemical
Composition of Aerial Parts of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Growing Wild in Lebanon Journal of
Essential Oil Bearing Plants 16(2)
274ndash282
Atti-Santos Ana Cristina Marcelo Rossato
Gabriel Fernandes Pauletti Luciana
Duarte Rota Juarez Ciro Rech Marcia
Regina Pansera Fabiana Agostini
Luciana Atti Serafini and Patrick
Moyna (2005) Physico-chemical
Evaluation of Rosmarinus officinalis L
Essential Oils Brazilian Archives of
Biology and Technology 48(6) 1035ndash
1039
Ayadi S Jerribi C Abderrabba M (2011)
Extraction et eacutetude des huiles
essentielles de Rosmarinus Officinalis
cueillie dans trois reacutegions diffeacuterentes de
la Tunisie Journal de la Socieacuteteacute
Algeacuterienne de Chimie 21(1) 25ndash33
Bekkara F Atik Bousmaha L Taleb Bendiab S
A Boti J B Casanova J (2007)
Composition chimique de lrsquohuile
essentielle de Rosmarinus officinalis L
poussant agrave lrsquoeacutetat spontaneacute et cultiveacute de
la reacutegion de Tlemcen Biologie amp Santeacute
7(1) 6ndash11
Bendeddouche M S Benhassaini H Hazem Z
Romane A (2011) Essential oil analysis
and antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
tournefortii from Algeria Nat Prod
Commun 6 1511ndash1514
Bozin B Mimica-Dukic N Samojlik I Jovin E
(2007) Antimicrobial and antioxidant
properties of rosemary and sage
(Rosmarinus officinalis L and Salvia
officinalis L Lamiaceae) essential oils
Journal of Agricultural and Food
Chemistry 55 7879ndash7885
Calin-Sanchez Angel Antoni Szumny Adam
Figiel Klaudiusz Jałoszynski Maciej
Adamski Angel A Carbonell-
Barrachin (2011) Effects of vacuum
level and microwave power on
rosemary volatile composition during
vacuumndashmicrowave drying Journal of
Food Engineering 103 219ndash227
Cheung S Tai J (2001) Anti-proliferative and
antioxidant properties of rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis Oncol Rep 17
1525ndash1531
Deba F Xuan TD Yasudaa M Tawata S
(2008) Chemical composition and
antioxidant antibacterial and antifungal
activities of the essential oils from
Bidens pilosa Linn var Radiata Food
Control 19 346ndash352
Derwich E Benziane Z Chabir R (2011)
Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of
Morocco Chemical Composition of
essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis
and Juniperus Phoenicea International
Journal of Applied Biology and
Pharmaceutical Technology 2(1) 145ndash
153
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Diaz-Maroto MC Perez-Coello MS Sanchez-
Palomo E Gonzalez-Vinas MA (2007)
Impact of drying and storage time on
sensory characteristics of rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis L) Journal of
Sensory Studies 22 34ndash48
Fabio A Cermelli C Fabio G Nicoletti P
Quaglio P (2007) Screening of the
antibacterial effects of a variety of
essential oils on microorganisms
responsible for respiratory infections
Phytother Res 21 374ndash377
Fadli Mariam Jacqueline Chevalier Asmaa
Saad Nour-Eddine Mezrioui Lahcen
Hassani Jean-Marie Pages (2011)
Essential oils from Moroccan plants as
potential chemosensitisers restoring
antibiotic activity in resistant Gram-
negative bacteria International Journal
of Antimicrobial Agents 38 325ndash330
Faixov ZR Faix S (2008) Biological effects of
Rosmary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
essensial oil (A Review) Folia
Veterinaria 5(3-4) 135ndash139
Gachkar L Yadegari D Rezaei MB
Taghizadeh M Astaneh SA Rasooli I
(2007) Chemical and biological
characteristics of Cuminum cyminum
and Rosmarinus officinalis essential
oils Food Chemistry 102 898ndash904
Hussain Abdullah I Farooq Anwar Poonam S
Nigam Satyajit D Sarker John E
Moore Juluri R Rao Anisha Mazumdar
(2011) Antibacterial activity of some
Lamiaceae essential oils using resazurin
as an indicator of cell growth LWT
Food Science and Technology 44
1199ndash1206
Issabeagloo Eilyad Parviz Kermanizadeh
Mohammad Taghizadieh Reza Forughi
(2012) Antimicrobial effects of
rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L)
essential oils against Staphylococcus
spp African Journal of Microbiology
Research 6(23) 5039ndash5042
Jalali-Heravi Mehdi Rudabeh Sadat Moazeni
Hassan Sereshti (2011) Analysis of
Iranian rosemary essential oil
Application of gas chromatographyndash
mass spectrometry combined with
chemometrics Journal of
Chromatography A 1218 2569ndash2576
Jiang Y Wu N Fu Y-J Wang W Luo M Zhao
CJ Zu YG Liu XL (2011) Chemical
composition and antimicrobial activity
of the essential oil of Rosemary
Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 32 63ndash
68
Jordan MJ Lax V Martinez C Aouissat M
Sotomayor JA 2011 Chemical
intraspecific variability and chemotypes
determination of Rosmarinus officinalis
L in the region of Murcia Acta
Horticulturae 925 109ndash114
Jordan MJ Vanesa Lax Maria C Rota Susana
Loran Joseacute A Sotomayor (2013)
Effect of bioclimatic area on the
essential oil composition and
antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L Food Control 30 463ndash
468
Kadri Adel Zied Zarai Ines BenChobba
Ahmed Beacutekir Neacuteji Gharsallah
Mohamed Damak Radhouane Gdoura
(2011) Chemical constituents and
antioxidant properties of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil cultivated
from the South-Western of Tunisia
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research
5(29) 6502ndash6508
Lopez P Sanchez C Battle R Nerin C (2005)
Soilid- and vapour-phase antimicrobial
activities of six essential oils
Susceptibility of selected foodborne
bacterial and fungal strains Agric Food
Chem 53 6939ndash6946
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Maistro EL Mota SF Lima EB Bernardes
BM Goulart FC (2010) Genotoxicity
and mutagenicity of Rosmarinus
officinalis (Labiatae) essential oil in
mammalian cells in vivo Genetics and
Molecular Research 9(4) 2113ndash2122
Martins MR Tinoco MT Almeida AS Cruz-
Morais J (2012) Chemical
Composition Antioxidant and
Antimicrobial properties of three
Essential oils from Portuguese Flora
Journal of Pharmacognosy 3(1) 39ndash44
Masuda T Inaba Y Takeda Y (2001)
Antioxidant mechanism of carnosic
acid structural identification of two
oxidation products J Agric Food
Chem 49 5560ndash5565
Matsuzaki Yusuke Toshiyuki Tsujisawa
Tatsuji Nishihara Mari Nakamura
Yasuaki Kakinoki (2013) Antifungal
activity of chemotype essential oils
from rosemary against Candida
albicans Open Journal of Stomatology
3 176ndash182
Mudasir A Tantry Syed Shabir Reehana Khan
Afsha Habib Seema Akbar (2012)
Determination of Essential Oil
Composition of Rosmarinus officinalis
Growing as Exotic species in Kashmir
Valley Chemistry of Natural
Compounds 47(6) 1012ndash1014
Mugnaini L Nardoni S Pinto L Pistelli L
Leonardi M Pisseri F Mancianti F
(2012) In vitro and in vivo antifungal
activity of some essential oils against
feline isolates of Microsporum canis
Journal de Mycologie Meacutedicale 22
179ndash184
Pino JA Estrarron M Fuentes V (1998)
Essential Oil of Rosemary (Rosmarinus
Officinalis L) from Cuba J Essent Oil
Res 10 111
Poeckel D Greiner C Verhoff M Rau O
Tausch L Heornig C Steinhilber D
Schubert-Zsilavecz M Werz O (2008)
Carnosic acid and carnosol potently
inhibit human 5-lipoxygenase and
suppress pro-inflammatory responses of
stimulated human polymorphonuclear
leukocytes Biochem Pharmacol 76
91ndash97
Prabuseenivasan S Jayakumar M Ignacimuthu
S (2006) In vitro antibacterial activity
of some plant essential oils BMC
Complement Altern Med 6 39
Reichling J Schnitzler P Suschke U Saller R
(2009) Essential oils of aromatic plants
with antibacterial antifungal antiviral
and cytotoxic properties-An overview
Forsch Komplementmed 16 79ndash90
Salido S Altarejos J Nogueras M Sanchez A
Luque P (2003) Chemical composition
and seasonal variations of rosemary oil
from Southern Spain Journal of
Essentials Oil Research 15 10ndash14
Santoyo S Cavero S Jaime L Ibanez E
Senorans FJ Reglero G (2005)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil obtained via
supercritical fluid extraction Journal of
Food Protection 68(4) 790ndash795
Sienkiewicz M Kowalczyk E Wasiela M
(2012) Recent patents regarding
essential oils and the significance of
their constituents in human health and
treatment Recent Pat Anti Infect Drug
Discov 7 133ndash140
Sienkiewicz Monika Monika Lysakowska
Marta Pastuszka Wojciech Bienias
Edward Kowalczyk (2013) The
Potential of Use Basil and Rosemary
Essential Oils as Effective Antibacterial
Agents Molecules 18 9334ndash9351
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Sui Xiaoyu Tingting Liu Chunhui Ma Lei
Yang Yuangang Zu Lin Zhang Hua
Wang (2012) Microwave irradiation to
pretreat rosemary (Rosmarinus
officinalis L) for maintaining
antioxidant content during storage and
to extract essential oil simultaneously
Food Chemistry 131 1399ndash1405
Szumny Antoni Adam Figiel Antonio
Gutierrez-Ortiz Angel A Carbonell
Barrachina (2010) Composition of
rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus
officinalis) as affected by drying
method Journal of Food Engineering
97 253ndash260
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre
Chalard Gilles Figueredo (2013)
Characteristics of Essential oils of
Rosmarinus officinalis from eastern
Algeria Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med 2(12) 794ndash807
Varela F Navarrete P Cristobal R Fanlo M
Melero R Sotomayor J A (2009)
Variability in the chemical composition
of wild Rosmarinus officinalis L Acta
Horticulturae 826 167ndash174
Verma Ram S Laiqur Rahman Sunita Mishra
Rajesh K V Amit Chauhan Anand
Singh (2011) Changes in essential oil
content and composition of leaf and leaf
powder of Rosmarinus officinalis cv
CIM-Hariyali during storage Maejo Int
J Sci Technol 5(02) 181ndash190
Viuda-Martos M El Gendy A E-N G S
Sendra E Fernandez-Lopez J Abd El
Razik K A Omer E A Jose A Perez-
Alvarez (2010) Chemical composition
and antioxidant and anti-Listeria
activities of essential oils obtained from
some Egyptian plants Journal
Agriculture Food Chemistry 58(16)
9063ndash9070
Wang Wei Nan Li Meng Luo Yuangang Zu
Thomas Efferth (2012) Antibacterial
Activity and Anticancer Activity of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Compared to That of Its Main
Components Molecules 17 2704ndash
2713
Yang Jiang Nan Wu Yu-Jie Fu Wei Wang
Meng Luo Chun-Jian Zhao Yuan-
Gang Zu Xiao-Lei Liu (2011)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of the essential oil
of Rosemary Environmental
Toxicology and Pharmacology 32 63ndash
68
Zaouali Y Messaoud C BenSalah A Boussaid
M (2005) Oil composition variability
among populations in relationship with
their ecological areas in Tunisian
Rosmarinus officinalis L Flavour
Fragrance J 20 512ndash520
Source of Support Algerian MESRS and
Chemical Laboratory of carbohydrates
Heterocyclic of Clermont Ferrant France
Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS
SALEM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU INDIA
Rekha R
1 Senthil Kumar S
2
1 2PG and Research Department of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and Science for Women
(Autonomous) Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal(DT) Tamil Nadu India
Corresponding Author E- Mail rekha87rajagmailcom
Received 26042014 Revised 24052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
An ethno-botanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills Southern
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu India during November 2012ndashMarch 2014 This study
mainly focused on the plants used by the Malayali tribes for various purposes (Construction
materials house hold implements brushing fuel wood agriculture tools religious decorative to
ward off evil spirits) through standardized questionnaires interviews and discussions with very old
and knowledgeable tribals A total of 84 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 42 families were
recorded in the present study These extremely important plants should be taken into account and
steps have to be taken to increase their production for future benefit
KEY WORDS Yercaud hills Malayali tribes Ethno-botany
Research Article
Cite this article
Rekha R Senthil Kumar S (2014) ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS SALEM DISTRICT
TAMIL NADU INDIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 243ndash251
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
Plants are used against a number of
diseases by many indigenous communities in
traditional medicine plants are also used in
building materials fodder weapons and other
commodities of economical importance The
tribal people are economically backward ethnic
groups and constitute separate socio-cultural
groups Many local and indigenous
communities in Asian countries meet their
basic needs from the forest products they
manufacture and sell based on their traditional
knowledge (John Kennedy 2006) Yercaud
hills have been gifted with enormous number
of plant species Tribal people living in
Yercaud hills depend on these plants for their
survival These plants play a vital role in their
life as these people depend on the forest wealth
to meet their needs Their economic condition
is determined by these plants Yercaud hill
range is situated to the north-east part of
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu
India with rich vegetation and it covers an area
of 150 square miles (390 Sq km) It lies
between 11deg45rsquo56rdquo N latitude and 78deg17rsquo55rdquo E
longitude The temperature ranges from 13degC
to 29degC on the peaks and 25degC to 40degC at the
foot hills The average annual rainfall is around
1500ndash1750 mm The indigenous people
inhabiting Yercaud hill are called Malayali the
oldest group of the branch of the ethnic group
in South India Malayali simply means a hill
person an appellation distinguishing them from
the people of plains In physical appearance
they scarcely differ from the people of plains
They speak Tamil dialect of their own They
are supposed to be descendants of
Kanchipuram vellalar They appear to have
migrated from Kanchipuram (a town near
Chennai Tamil Nadu India) between seventh
and eleventh centuries The tribals are mostly
working as casual laborers in coffee estates
They are cultivating food grains fruits and
vegetable (Alagesaboopathi et al 1996)
Malayali tribals use more number of plants for
various purposes like for making construction
materials house hold implements brushing
plants fuel wood agriculture tools religious
decorative to ward off evil spirits etc This
study enumerates such useful plants which are
used by Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills
Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu India
Data Collection
Frequent field surveys were carried out in
Yercaud hills in different seasons during
November 2012ndashMarch 2014 Information on the plants was collected through personal
interview with village headman farmers and
other knowledgeable tribals The interviews
were conducted in the local language (Tamil)
the information includes local names plant
parts used and method of utilization was
gathered from them with regard to each plant
The collected information was recorded on
field note books and plants were identified
using the Flora of the Presidency of Madras
(Gamble 1935) and Flora of Tamil Nadu-
Carnatic (Matthew 1983) Plant specimens
were deposited for future references in the
Botany department Vivekanandha College of
Arts and Sciences for women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal
(DT) Tamil Nadu India
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The present study focused mainly on the
role of non timber forest products in the
livelihood of Malayali tribes of Yercaud hills
Salem district Tamil Nadu India During the
study period 84 plant species belonging to 70
genera and 42 families were identified to be
utilized by Malayali tribes (Table 1) The
reported plants were arranged to their
Botanical Name Vernacular name as recorded
during field work habit and uses Plants
utilized by Malayali tribes can be classified
under various categories like fuel wood plants
house construction and house hold implements
agriculture tools religious importance plants
plants used to ward off evil afflictions hair
care and toothbrush The plants listed mainly
belong to Rubiaceae (6 species) followed by
Fabaceae and Moraceae (5 species)
Mimosaceae Rutaceae and Poaceae (4
species) Combretaceae Anacardiaceae
Euphorbiaceae Apocynaceae (3 species)
Asparagaceae Alangiaceae Asclepidaceae
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Meliaceae Caesalpiniaceae Verbenaceae
Arecaceae Ebenaceae Lamiaceae Tiliaceae
Myrtaceae and Dipterocarpaceae (2 species)
Araceae Acanthaceae Annonaceae
Papaveraceae Bambusaceae Borangiaceae
Cyperaceae Droseraceae Proteaceae
Convolvulaceae Gyrocarpeaceae Ulmaceae
Malvaceae Lythraceae Nyctaginaceae
Moringaceae Salicaceae Araliaceae
Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species) From
the study it was observed that 51 taxa are trees
(60) 23 taxa are herbs (20) and 10 taxa are
shrub (12)
Fire wood plants
One of the most important non timber
forest products for daily life is fuel wood the
only means of energy source of Malayali
tribes The fuel wood species are collected
from the forest near to the hamlets The species
preferred for fire wood to their comfortable
availability and inflammability According to
Malayali tribes which are not considered as a
source of good timber are treated as fire wood
The fire wood utilized by Malayali tribes
belong to 15 species 15 genera and 10
families they are Albizzia lebbeck Benth
Bauhinia tomentosa L Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb Chomelia astiactica OKze
Diospyros montana Roxb Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq Holopetela integrifolia
(Roxb) Planch Mallotus philippensis M Arg
Moringa oleifera Lamk Plectronia didyma
Kurz Salix tetrasperma Roxb Shorea robusta
Roth Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels Terminalia
bellerica Roxb and Zanthoxylum budrunga
Wall
House construction and house hold
implements
Malayali tribes have good Knowledge to
use natural resources specifically plants for
their day-to-day life Malayali tribes use
Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq leaves to make
meal plate Phoenix sylverstris Roxb leaves to
make broom stick Cyperus rotundus L
Ophiuros exalatus OKtz Oryza sativa L
Sorghum vulgare L are used for roofing and
thatching Mature stem of Cassia fistula Linn
Chloroxylon swietenia DC Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl and Terminalia
chebula Retz were used to make pounder
Mature stem of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam is
used to make churn-staff woody stem of
Mangifera indica L is used to make wood
grinder leaves of Cassia fistula Linn is used
for ripening of fruits Gmelina arborea Roxb
mature stem is used as a stick for musical
instrument the fibers from the leaf fibers of
Agave americana L and Agave angustifolia
Haw are used for making coir the culm of
Bambusa arundinacea Willd is used for
making various types of baskets leaves of
Corypha umbracalifer L is used for making
baskets and decoration in ceremonies
Wood forms an important construction
material for houses cattle sheds and temporary
settlements in the area Windows doors and
cots were chiefly made up of Albizia
odoratissima Benth Cleistanthus Collins
Benth Cordia wallichii G Don Dalberiga
lanceolaria L Diospyros edenum JKoeing
Gardenia resinifera Roth Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br Melia composite Willd
Shorea roxburghii Roxb Tectona grandis
Linn Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall and
Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk
Agricultural implements
For making agricultural implements four
species were used such as Chloroxylon
swietenia DC and Bumbusa arundinacea Willd
were used for making handle of axe and woody
stem of Anogeissus latifolia Wall and Tectona
grandis Linn is made in the shape of a harrow
by Malayali tribes
Plants used for Religious purposes
Ceremonial plant use is of principal
importance in daily Malayali tribe life and
many species have a specific ceremonial
significance generally associated with
blessings age-rites and witchcraft Some plants
are used as offerings to god among these tribes
Asclepias curassavica L Cassia montana
Heyne Clerodendrum serratum L and
Plumeria rubra L flowers are used in religious
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
practice to worship God Holarrhena
pubescens (Buch-Ham) WallexGDon
Wrightia tinctoria RBr mature stem are used
in all traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions
Malayali tribes believe that some of the
plants bring good fortune and keep off evil
spirits The exudates of Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb and Semecarpus
anacardium L are used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect them from evils
afflictions brush body with leaves and root of
Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake
bite brush body with leaves of Schefflera
racemosa Harms protect from evils afflictions
roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Aitf is
stitched together and then worn around the hip
to protect from evils afflictions rhizome of the
Acorus calamus Linn is made into pieces and
stitched together and worn around the neck of a
new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions
Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate
sexual desire ie Abrus pulchellus Wall
Alangium hexapetalum Lam Canthium
parviflorum Lam Drosera indica L Evolvulus
alsinoides Linn Ficus bengalensis Linn
Grewia tenax (forssk) fiori Mimosa pudica
Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn Ocimum canum
Sims and Randia dumetorum Lam
Plants used as Toothbrush
Malayali tribals generally use the young
twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn
Azadirachta indica AJuss Ficus glomerata
Roxb Ficus religosa Linn Jatropha curcas L
and Psidium guajava Linn areial root of Ficus
benghalensis Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn
rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula Retz
fruit powder are used as tooth powder
Plants used in Hair Nourishment
Heredity older age lack of nutrition
infections (such as worms lice scabies
dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic
products (soaps shampoos and hair oils) may
cause hair loss dandruff discoloration of hairs
Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant
resources for hair disorders For example
Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a
shampoo seeds of Argemone mexicana root of
Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening
the hairs flowers of Annona squamosa amp fruit
of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff
and kill lice whole plant parts of Andrographis
echioides flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia
calendulacea prevented hair loss
Table 1 List of plants used by Malayali Tribal people for NTFP in Yercaud hills
S
No
Botanical Name Vernacular Name
(Tamil)
Family Parts used Purposes
1 Abrus pulchellus
Wall
Vellaikuntumani Fabaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
2 Acorus calamus
Linn
Vasambu Araceae Rhizome Rhizome made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the neck of new born
baby to get rid from evils
afflictions
3 Agave americana L Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
4 Agave angustifolia
Haw
Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
5 Alangium
hexapetalum Lam
Earualangi Alangiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
6 Alangium salvifolium
Linn
Alangal Alangiaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
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(2007) Biologically active endophytic
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Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
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Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
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Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
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Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
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Seasonal and needle age-dependent
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Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
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Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
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Review Bacterial endophytes and their
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an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
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Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
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Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
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Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
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Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
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Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
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Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
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Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
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Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous medicine ndash GJRMI
Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Figure 1 Populations of Rosmarinus officinalis studied
MATERIALS amp METHODS
Plant material
Rosmarinus officinalis is collected from
five localities in eastern Algeria Kherrata
(Bedjaia) Boutaleb (Setif) Bibans (Bourdj
Bou-Arriridj) Agmeroual and Nrsquogaous
(Batna) and Boussacircada (MrsquoSila) (Figure 1)
The plant identification was performed by Dr
Lograda Takia The voucher specimens are
preserved in the Herbarium at the Department
of Biology and Ecology Vegetal Setif
University Algeria Aerial parts were collected
during the flowering stage in October 2013
Extraction of the essential oil
The air-dried aerial parts of the six
populations were subjected to hydro-distillation
for 3 h with distilled water using a Clevenger-
type apparatus The oil obtained was collected
and dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and
stored in screw capped glass vials in a
refrigerator at 4ndash5degC prior to the analysis
Antibacterial Activity
The antimicrobial activities of the essential
oils were evaluated against three Gram positive
(Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 MRSA
(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923) and six
Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli
ATCC 25922 Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp Serratia liquefaciens ATCC
27592 Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756
Shigella sp) The bacterial inoculums was
prepared from overnight broth culture in
physiological saline (08 of NaCl) in order to
obtain an optical density ranging from 008ndash01
at 625 nm Muller-Hinton agar (MH agar) and
MH agar supplemented with 5 sheep blood
for fastidious bacteria were poured in Petri
dishes solidified and surface dried before
inoculation Sterile discs (6 mm Φ) were placed
on inoculated agars by test bacteria filled with
10 μl of mother solution and diluted essential
oil (11 12 14 and 18 vv of DMSO)
DMSO was used as negative control Bacterial
growth inhibition was determined as the
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
diameter of the inhibition zones around the
discs All tests were performed in triplicate
Then Petri dishes were incubated at 37degC
during 18 to 24h aerobically After incubation
inhibition zone diameters were measured and
documented
RESULTS
The hydro-distillation of the essential oil of
R officinalis gave a viscous liquid with a
whitish colour The average yield of essential
oil of the samples is 023 the highest rate
was observed in the essential oil of Kherrata
population (035) while the population of
Agmeroual was characterised by the lowest
yield (010) R officinalis of eastern Algeria
includes several chemotypes (Table 1) The
first chemotype to eucalyptol has two variants
the first variant (E-Ca-αP-C) characterizes
Kherrata population the second chemotype (E-
αP-Ca-C) characterizes the Bibans population
The difference of these two chemotype variants
is the concentration of Eucalyptol and camphor
The second chemotype to camphor had three
variants the variant (Ca-C-αP-E) characterized
Boussacircada population Agmeroual population
contained the variant (Ca-αP-C-E) while the
third variant (Ca-αP-E-C) of this chemotype
was found in the region of Ngaous The third
chemotype to α-pinene (αP-Ca-E-C) in R
officinalis of eastern Algeria characterized the
population of Boutaleb
The antibacterial activity of the essential oil
chemotypes was evaluated against nine bacteria
(Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 MRSA
(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923
Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 Pseudomonas
syringae Salmonella sp Serratia liquefaciens
ATCC 27592 Serratia marcescens ATCC
14756 and Shigella sp) The disc diameters of
inhibition zone of essential oils for the
microorganisms tested are grouped in Table 2
The results showed that the essential oils have
inhibited the growth of bacterial strains The
diameters of the inhibition zone are between (0
and 40 mm) these diameters depended on the
sensitivity of the bacteria tested
The essential oil chemotypes of Kherrata
and the Bibans regions generally exhibited
antibacterial activity against the
microorganismsrsquo tested with an inhibition
diameter between 7 and 15 mm The
chemotype of Bibans populations had a high
activity with a dilution frac12 on Staphylococcus
aureus with a diameter of 40 mm (Figure 2)
The camphor chemotype with three variants
exhibits a moderate antibacterial activity with
an inhibition diameter (7ndash20 mm) The
essential oil is active on Enterobacter cloacea
with different dilutions The dilution 12 of
Agmeroual chemotype inhibited Escherichia
coli strongly with a diameter of 20 mm and no
effect was seen on Pseudomonas syringae
(Figure 3)
The chemotype of Boutaleb (α-pinene
variant) had an inhibitory effect with an
inhibition diameter (7ndash15 mm) This
chemotype is active on Enterobacter cloacae
and no activity on Pseudomonas syringae in the
frac14 dilution (Figure 4)
Table 1 Volatile profile of Rosemary essential oils selected by chemotype (Lograda et al 2013)
Populations Kherrata Bibans Agmeroual Ngaous Boussaacircda Boutaleb
Yield (vv)
035 03 02 01 025 015
Chemotypes Eucalyptol Camphor α-pinene
E-Ca-αP-
C
E-αP-Ca-C Ca-αP-C-E Ca-αP-E-C Ca-C-αP-
E
αP-Ca-C-
E Eucalyptol 355 422 54 121 66 88
α-pinene 114 138 169 136 151 252
Camphor 145 91 388 169 427 241
Camphene 80 53 138 37 177 227 Chemotype classification in relation with the chemical compounds found in rosemary samples
E = eucalyptol αP = α-pinene Ca = camphor C = camphene
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Table 2 Inhibition diameter (mm) of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil chemotype
Populations Kherrata Bibans Boussacircada Agmeroual Nrsquogaous Boutaleb
Chemotypes E-Ca-αp-C E-αp-Ca-C Ca-C-αp-E Ca-αp-C-E Ca-αp-E-C αp-Ca-E-C
Bacteria G Dilution Dilution Dilution
frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18
1 14 15 13 11 20 10 11 10 9 11 20 9 8 8 8 12 10 12 10
2 0 12 12 9 15 11 10 10 8 9 11 10 8 8 7 14 13 10 10
3 14 10 9 9 11 15 10 9 7 12 12 8 8 10 12 14 15 8 11
4 10 12 13 12 12 9 10 19 7 10 0 0 0 10 9 9 7 0 11
5 16 9 8 10 13 7 12 10 10 10 7 7 7 10 12 11 10 8 10
6 10 11 8 14 15 9 13 15 10 15 13 10 11 10 8 9 14 13 12
7 12 8 8 10 10 9 8 9 12 10 15 11 10 8 7 7 12 10 13
8 15 11 9 12 40 15 10 10 15 15 8 7 0 15 12 10 10 8 10
9 25 10 9 12 12 13 13 20 15 12 20 12 15 10 13 11 11 11 10
1 Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 2 Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 3 MRSA = Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus 4 Pseudomonas syringae 5 Salmonella sp 6 Serratia liquefaciens ATCC 27592 7
Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756 8 Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 9 Shigella sp
G = Gentamicine E = eucalyptol αP = α-pinene Ca = camphor C = camphene
Figure 2 Antibacterial activity of Kherrata and Bibans chemotypes
G frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18
Dilution
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Inhib
itio
n d
iam
ete
r (m
m)
E-Ca-ap-C
KherrataE-ap-Ca- C
Bibans
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Figure 3 Antibacterial activity of Boussaada Agmeroual and Nrsquogaous Chemotypes
Figure 4 Antibacterial activity of Boutaleb Chemotype
Gentamicine
frac12
frac14
18
frac12
frac14
18
frac12
frac14
18
Dilution
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26In
hib
itio
n d
iam
ete
r (m
m)
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
Ca-C-ap-E Boussacircada Ca-ap-C-E AgmeroualCa-ap-E-C Nrsquogaous
G frac12 frac14 18
Dilution
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
Inh
ibit
ion
dia
met
er (
mm
)
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
ap-Ca-E-C Boutaleb
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
DISCUSSION
Our returns of the essential oil are low
compared to those of the literature This yield is
between 06 and 08 (Atti-Santos et al 2005
Bekkara et al 2007) Ayadi et al (2011) found
a yield (071ndash2) which indicates that the yield
of rosemary varies according to geographical
location
The chemical components of the essential
oil of R officinalis showed that α-pinene
camphene eucalyptol and camphor are the
major products (Jordan et al 2013 Mugnaini
et al 2012 Sienkiewicz et al 2013
Matsuzaki et al 2013 Derwich et al 2011
Fadli et al 2011 Jalali-Heravi et al 2011
Issabeagloo et al 2012 Hussain et al 2011
Mudasir et al 2012 Verma et al 2011 Yang
et al 2011 Sui et al 2012 Aderiana et al
2013 Lograda et al 2013)
Based on the majority of Rosemary
components the authors identified three
chemotypes (Issabeagloo et al 2012 Mudasir
et al 2012 Sui et al 2012 Mugnaini et al
2012 Jordan et al 2013 Sienkiewicz et al
2013 Matsuzaki et al 2013 Aderiana et al
2013) the same chemotypes are found in our
samples with the presence of five variants The
eastern Algeria samples showed an average
antibacterial activity on all tested bacteria the
same observations were mentioned in the
literature (Lopez et al 2005 Probuseenivasan
et al 2006 Fabio et al 2007 Jiang et al
2011 Sienkiewicz et al 2013) This may be
partly due to the fact that the essential oils
contained more oxygenated compounds and
these classes of compounds have been proved
to possess strong antibacterial activities (Deba
et al 2008)
Generally the essential oils of R officinalis
have shown broad spectra of activity against
the tested microorganisms the same findings
were made by Gachkar et al (2007) on some
species of the genus The antimicrobial
property of the essential oil of R officinalis is
attributed to the presence of α-pinene 18-
cineole camphor verbinone and borneol
(Santoyo et al 2005) the quantities of these
compounds were very high in our oils
CONCLUSION
Six variants of Rosemary chemotypes
localized in eastern Algeria were used in the
determination of the antimicrobial activity
against the gram positive and negative bacteria
by the disc diffusion method The essential oil
obtained by hydrodistillation was more active
against microorganisms than the antibiotic
gentamicine The essential oils showed
inhibition zones against all micro-organisms
tested The Results indicate that essential oils
of Rosmarinus officinalis present significant
antimicrobial activity This antimicrobial
activity can be linked to its higher content of
oxygenated compounds This study provides
additional data of antibacterial activity of the
essential oils of R officinalis growing in
Algeria
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The work was supported by Algerian
MESRS and Chemical Laboratory of
carbohydrates Heterocyclic of Clermont
Ferrant France
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Zilberg D (2004) Use of Rosmarinus
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Streptococcus iniae in tilapia
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97ndash105
Adriana M Ojeda-Sana C M van Baren M A
Elechosa M A Juarez S M (2013) New
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components Food Control 31 189ndash
195
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Altinier G Sosa S Aquino RP Mencherini T
Loggia RD Tubaro A (2007)
Characterization of topical
antiinflammatory compounds in
Rosmarinus officinalis L J Agric
Food Chem 55 1718ndash1723
Angioni A Barra A Cereti E Barile D
Coisson JD Arlorio M Dessi S
Coroneo V Cabras P (2004) Chemical
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antimicrobial and antifungal activity
investigation of the essential of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry 52
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Apostolides Nelly Arnold Marc El Beyrouthy
Wissal Dhifi Samir Najm Fabrice
Cazier Wafaa Najem Madonna Labaki
Antoine AbouKaiumls (2013) Chemical
Composition of Aerial Parts of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Growing Wild in Lebanon Journal of
Essential Oil Bearing Plants 16(2)
274ndash282
Atti-Santos Ana Cristina Marcelo Rossato
Gabriel Fernandes Pauletti Luciana
Duarte Rota Juarez Ciro Rech Marcia
Regina Pansera Fabiana Agostini
Luciana Atti Serafini and Patrick
Moyna (2005) Physico-chemical
Evaluation of Rosmarinus officinalis L
Essential Oils Brazilian Archives of
Biology and Technology 48(6) 1035ndash
1039
Ayadi S Jerribi C Abderrabba M (2011)
Extraction et eacutetude des huiles
essentielles de Rosmarinus Officinalis
cueillie dans trois reacutegions diffeacuterentes de
la Tunisie Journal de la Socieacuteteacute
Algeacuterienne de Chimie 21(1) 25ndash33
Bekkara F Atik Bousmaha L Taleb Bendiab S
A Boti J B Casanova J (2007)
Composition chimique de lrsquohuile
essentielle de Rosmarinus officinalis L
poussant agrave lrsquoeacutetat spontaneacute et cultiveacute de
la reacutegion de Tlemcen Biologie amp Santeacute
7(1) 6ndash11
Bendeddouche M S Benhassaini H Hazem Z
Romane A (2011) Essential oil analysis
and antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
tournefortii from Algeria Nat Prod
Commun 6 1511ndash1514
Bozin B Mimica-Dukic N Samojlik I Jovin E
(2007) Antimicrobial and antioxidant
properties of rosemary and sage
(Rosmarinus officinalis L and Salvia
officinalis L Lamiaceae) essential oils
Journal of Agricultural and Food
Chemistry 55 7879ndash7885
Calin-Sanchez Angel Antoni Szumny Adam
Figiel Klaudiusz Jałoszynski Maciej
Adamski Angel A Carbonell-
Barrachin (2011) Effects of vacuum
level and microwave power on
rosemary volatile composition during
vacuumndashmicrowave drying Journal of
Food Engineering 103 219ndash227
Cheung S Tai J (2001) Anti-proliferative and
antioxidant properties of rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis Oncol Rep 17
1525ndash1531
Deba F Xuan TD Yasudaa M Tawata S
(2008) Chemical composition and
antioxidant antibacterial and antifungal
activities of the essential oils from
Bidens pilosa Linn var Radiata Food
Control 19 346ndash352
Derwich E Benziane Z Chabir R (2011)
Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of
Morocco Chemical Composition of
essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis
and Juniperus Phoenicea International
Journal of Applied Biology and
Pharmaceutical Technology 2(1) 145ndash
153
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Diaz-Maroto MC Perez-Coello MS Sanchez-
Palomo E Gonzalez-Vinas MA (2007)
Impact of drying and storage time on
sensory characteristics of rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis L) Journal of
Sensory Studies 22 34ndash48
Fabio A Cermelli C Fabio G Nicoletti P
Quaglio P (2007) Screening of the
antibacterial effects of a variety of
essential oils on microorganisms
responsible for respiratory infections
Phytother Res 21 374ndash377
Fadli Mariam Jacqueline Chevalier Asmaa
Saad Nour-Eddine Mezrioui Lahcen
Hassani Jean-Marie Pages (2011)
Essential oils from Moroccan plants as
potential chemosensitisers restoring
antibiotic activity in resistant Gram-
negative bacteria International Journal
of Antimicrobial Agents 38 325ndash330
Faixov ZR Faix S (2008) Biological effects of
Rosmary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
essensial oil (A Review) Folia
Veterinaria 5(3-4) 135ndash139
Gachkar L Yadegari D Rezaei MB
Taghizadeh M Astaneh SA Rasooli I
(2007) Chemical and biological
characteristics of Cuminum cyminum
and Rosmarinus officinalis essential
oils Food Chemistry 102 898ndash904
Hussain Abdullah I Farooq Anwar Poonam S
Nigam Satyajit D Sarker John E
Moore Juluri R Rao Anisha Mazumdar
(2011) Antibacterial activity of some
Lamiaceae essential oils using resazurin
as an indicator of cell growth LWT
Food Science and Technology 44
1199ndash1206
Issabeagloo Eilyad Parviz Kermanizadeh
Mohammad Taghizadieh Reza Forughi
(2012) Antimicrobial effects of
rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L)
essential oils against Staphylococcus
spp African Journal of Microbiology
Research 6(23) 5039ndash5042
Jalali-Heravi Mehdi Rudabeh Sadat Moazeni
Hassan Sereshti (2011) Analysis of
Iranian rosemary essential oil
Application of gas chromatographyndash
mass spectrometry combined with
chemometrics Journal of
Chromatography A 1218 2569ndash2576
Jiang Y Wu N Fu Y-J Wang W Luo M Zhao
CJ Zu YG Liu XL (2011) Chemical
composition and antimicrobial activity
of the essential oil of Rosemary
Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 32 63ndash
68
Jordan MJ Lax V Martinez C Aouissat M
Sotomayor JA 2011 Chemical
intraspecific variability and chemotypes
determination of Rosmarinus officinalis
L in the region of Murcia Acta
Horticulturae 925 109ndash114
Jordan MJ Vanesa Lax Maria C Rota Susana
Loran Joseacute A Sotomayor (2013)
Effect of bioclimatic area on the
essential oil composition and
antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L Food Control 30 463ndash
468
Kadri Adel Zied Zarai Ines BenChobba
Ahmed Beacutekir Neacuteji Gharsallah
Mohamed Damak Radhouane Gdoura
(2011) Chemical constituents and
antioxidant properties of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil cultivated
from the South-Western of Tunisia
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research
5(29) 6502ndash6508
Lopez P Sanchez C Battle R Nerin C (2005)
Soilid- and vapour-phase antimicrobial
activities of six essential oils
Susceptibility of selected foodborne
bacterial and fungal strains Agric Food
Chem 53 6939ndash6946
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Maistro EL Mota SF Lima EB Bernardes
BM Goulart FC (2010) Genotoxicity
and mutagenicity of Rosmarinus
officinalis (Labiatae) essential oil in
mammalian cells in vivo Genetics and
Molecular Research 9(4) 2113ndash2122
Martins MR Tinoco MT Almeida AS Cruz-
Morais J (2012) Chemical
Composition Antioxidant and
Antimicrobial properties of three
Essential oils from Portuguese Flora
Journal of Pharmacognosy 3(1) 39ndash44
Masuda T Inaba Y Takeda Y (2001)
Antioxidant mechanism of carnosic
acid structural identification of two
oxidation products J Agric Food
Chem 49 5560ndash5565
Matsuzaki Yusuke Toshiyuki Tsujisawa
Tatsuji Nishihara Mari Nakamura
Yasuaki Kakinoki (2013) Antifungal
activity of chemotype essential oils
from rosemary against Candida
albicans Open Journal of Stomatology
3 176ndash182
Mudasir A Tantry Syed Shabir Reehana Khan
Afsha Habib Seema Akbar (2012)
Determination of Essential Oil
Composition of Rosmarinus officinalis
Growing as Exotic species in Kashmir
Valley Chemistry of Natural
Compounds 47(6) 1012ndash1014
Mugnaini L Nardoni S Pinto L Pistelli L
Leonardi M Pisseri F Mancianti F
(2012) In vitro and in vivo antifungal
activity of some essential oils against
feline isolates of Microsporum canis
Journal de Mycologie Meacutedicale 22
179ndash184
Pino JA Estrarron M Fuentes V (1998)
Essential Oil of Rosemary (Rosmarinus
Officinalis L) from Cuba J Essent Oil
Res 10 111
Poeckel D Greiner C Verhoff M Rau O
Tausch L Heornig C Steinhilber D
Schubert-Zsilavecz M Werz O (2008)
Carnosic acid and carnosol potently
inhibit human 5-lipoxygenase and
suppress pro-inflammatory responses of
stimulated human polymorphonuclear
leukocytes Biochem Pharmacol 76
91ndash97
Prabuseenivasan S Jayakumar M Ignacimuthu
S (2006) In vitro antibacterial activity
of some plant essential oils BMC
Complement Altern Med 6 39
Reichling J Schnitzler P Suschke U Saller R
(2009) Essential oils of aromatic plants
with antibacterial antifungal antiviral
and cytotoxic properties-An overview
Forsch Komplementmed 16 79ndash90
Salido S Altarejos J Nogueras M Sanchez A
Luque P (2003) Chemical composition
and seasonal variations of rosemary oil
from Southern Spain Journal of
Essentials Oil Research 15 10ndash14
Santoyo S Cavero S Jaime L Ibanez E
Senorans FJ Reglero G (2005)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil obtained via
supercritical fluid extraction Journal of
Food Protection 68(4) 790ndash795
Sienkiewicz M Kowalczyk E Wasiela M
(2012) Recent patents regarding
essential oils and the significance of
their constituents in human health and
treatment Recent Pat Anti Infect Drug
Discov 7 133ndash140
Sienkiewicz Monika Monika Lysakowska
Marta Pastuszka Wojciech Bienias
Edward Kowalczyk (2013) The
Potential of Use Basil and Rosemary
Essential Oils as Effective Antibacterial
Agents Molecules 18 9334ndash9351
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Sui Xiaoyu Tingting Liu Chunhui Ma Lei
Yang Yuangang Zu Lin Zhang Hua
Wang (2012) Microwave irradiation to
pretreat rosemary (Rosmarinus
officinalis L) for maintaining
antioxidant content during storage and
to extract essential oil simultaneously
Food Chemistry 131 1399ndash1405
Szumny Antoni Adam Figiel Antonio
Gutierrez-Ortiz Angel A Carbonell
Barrachina (2010) Composition of
rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus
officinalis) as affected by drying
method Journal of Food Engineering
97 253ndash260
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre
Chalard Gilles Figueredo (2013)
Characteristics of Essential oils of
Rosmarinus officinalis from eastern
Algeria Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med 2(12) 794ndash807
Varela F Navarrete P Cristobal R Fanlo M
Melero R Sotomayor J A (2009)
Variability in the chemical composition
of wild Rosmarinus officinalis L Acta
Horticulturae 826 167ndash174
Verma Ram S Laiqur Rahman Sunita Mishra
Rajesh K V Amit Chauhan Anand
Singh (2011) Changes in essential oil
content and composition of leaf and leaf
powder of Rosmarinus officinalis cv
CIM-Hariyali during storage Maejo Int
J Sci Technol 5(02) 181ndash190
Viuda-Martos M El Gendy A E-N G S
Sendra E Fernandez-Lopez J Abd El
Razik K A Omer E A Jose A Perez-
Alvarez (2010) Chemical composition
and antioxidant and anti-Listeria
activities of essential oils obtained from
some Egyptian plants Journal
Agriculture Food Chemistry 58(16)
9063ndash9070
Wang Wei Nan Li Meng Luo Yuangang Zu
Thomas Efferth (2012) Antibacterial
Activity and Anticancer Activity of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Compared to That of Its Main
Components Molecules 17 2704ndash
2713
Yang Jiang Nan Wu Yu-Jie Fu Wei Wang
Meng Luo Chun-Jian Zhao Yuan-
Gang Zu Xiao-Lei Liu (2011)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of the essential oil
of Rosemary Environmental
Toxicology and Pharmacology 32 63ndash
68
Zaouali Y Messaoud C BenSalah A Boussaid
M (2005) Oil composition variability
among populations in relationship with
their ecological areas in Tunisian
Rosmarinus officinalis L Flavour
Fragrance J 20 512ndash520
Source of Support Algerian MESRS and
Chemical Laboratory of carbohydrates
Heterocyclic of Clermont Ferrant France
Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS
SALEM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU INDIA
Rekha R
1 Senthil Kumar S
2
1 2PG and Research Department of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and Science for Women
(Autonomous) Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal(DT) Tamil Nadu India
Corresponding Author E- Mail rekha87rajagmailcom
Received 26042014 Revised 24052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
An ethno-botanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills Southern
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu India during November 2012ndashMarch 2014 This study
mainly focused on the plants used by the Malayali tribes for various purposes (Construction
materials house hold implements brushing fuel wood agriculture tools religious decorative to
ward off evil spirits) through standardized questionnaires interviews and discussions with very old
and knowledgeable tribals A total of 84 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 42 families were
recorded in the present study These extremely important plants should be taken into account and
steps have to be taken to increase their production for future benefit
KEY WORDS Yercaud hills Malayali tribes Ethno-botany
Research Article
Cite this article
Rekha R Senthil Kumar S (2014) ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS SALEM DISTRICT
TAMIL NADU INDIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 243ndash251
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
Plants are used against a number of
diseases by many indigenous communities in
traditional medicine plants are also used in
building materials fodder weapons and other
commodities of economical importance The
tribal people are economically backward ethnic
groups and constitute separate socio-cultural
groups Many local and indigenous
communities in Asian countries meet their
basic needs from the forest products they
manufacture and sell based on their traditional
knowledge (John Kennedy 2006) Yercaud
hills have been gifted with enormous number
of plant species Tribal people living in
Yercaud hills depend on these plants for their
survival These plants play a vital role in their
life as these people depend on the forest wealth
to meet their needs Their economic condition
is determined by these plants Yercaud hill
range is situated to the north-east part of
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu
India with rich vegetation and it covers an area
of 150 square miles (390 Sq km) It lies
between 11deg45rsquo56rdquo N latitude and 78deg17rsquo55rdquo E
longitude The temperature ranges from 13degC
to 29degC on the peaks and 25degC to 40degC at the
foot hills The average annual rainfall is around
1500ndash1750 mm The indigenous people
inhabiting Yercaud hill are called Malayali the
oldest group of the branch of the ethnic group
in South India Malayali simply means a hill
person an appellation distinguishing them from
the people of plains In physical appearance
they scarcely differ from the people of plains
They speak Tamil dialect of their own They
are supposed to be descendants of
Kanchipuram vellalar They appear to have
migrated from Kanchipuram (a town near
Chennai Tamil Nadu India) between seventh
and eleventh centuries The tribals are mostly
working as casual laborers in coffee estates
They are cultivating food grains fruits and
vegetable (Alagesaboopathi et al 1996)
Malayali tribals use more number of plants for
various purposes like for making construction
materials house hold implements brushing
plants fuel wood agriculture tools religious
decorative to ward off evil spirits etc This
study enumerates such useful plants which are
used by Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills
Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu India
Data Collection
Frequent field surveys were carried out in
Yercaud hills in different seasons during
November 2012ndashMarch 2014 Information on the plants was collected through personal
interview with village headman farmers and
other knowledgeable tribals The interviews
were conducted in the local language (Tamil)
the information includes local names plant
parts used and method of utilization was
gathered from them with regard to each plant
The collected information was recorded on
field note books and plants were identified
using the Flora of the Presidency of Madras
(Gamble 1935) and Flora of Tamil Nadu-
Carnatic (Matthew 1983) Plant specimens
were deposited for future references in the
Botany department Vivekanandha College of
Arts and Sciences for women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal
(DT) Tamil Nadu India
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The present study focused mainly on the
role of non timber forest products in the
livelihood of Malayali tribes of Yercaud hills
Salem district Tamil Nadu India During the
study period 84 plant species belonging to 70
genera and 42 families were identified to be
utilized by Malayali tribes (Table 1) The
reported plants were arranged to their
Botanical Name Vernacular name as recorded
during field work habit and uses Plants
utilized by Malayali tribes can be classified
under various categories like fuel wood plants
house construction and house hold implements
agriculture tools religious importance plants
plants used to ward off evil afflictions hair
care and toothbrush The plants listed mainly
belong to Rubiaceae (6 species) followed by
Fabaceae and Moraceae (5 species)
Mimosaceae Rutaceae and Poaceae (4
species) Combretaceae Anacardiaceae
Euphorbiaceae Apocynaceae (3 species)
Asparagaceae Alangiaceae Asclepidaceae
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Meliaceae Caesalpiniaceae Verbenaceae
Arecaceae Ebenaceae Lamiaceae Tiliaceae
Myrtaceae and Dipterocarpaceae (2 species)
Araceae Acanthaceae Annonaceae
Papaveraceae Bambusaceae Borangiaceae
Cyperaceae Droseraceae Proteaceae
Convolvulaceae Gyrocarpeaceae Ulmaceae
Malvaceae Lythraceae Nyctaginaceae
Moringaceae Salicaceae Araliaceae
Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species) From
the study it was observed that 51 taxa are trees
(60) 23 taxa are herbs (20) and 10 taxa are
shrub (12)
Fire wood plants
One of the most important non timber
forest products for daily life is fuel wood the
only means of energy source of Malayali
tribes The fuel wood species are collected
from the forest near to the hamlets The species
preferred for fire wood to their comfortable
availability and inflammability According to
Malayali tribes which are not considered as a
source of good timber are treated as fire wood
The fire wood utilized by Malayali tribes
belong to 15 species 15 genera and 10
families they are Albizzia lebbeck Benth
Bauhinia tomentosa L Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb Chomelia astiactica OKze
Diospyros montana Roxb Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq Holopetela integrifolia
(Roxb) Planch Mallotus philippensis M Arg
Moringa oleifera Lamk Plectronia didyma
Kurz Salix tetrasperma Roxb Shorea robusta
Roth Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels Terminalia
bellerica Roxb and Zanthoxylum budrunga
Wall
House construction and house hold
implements
Malayali tribes have good Knowledge to
use natural resources specifically plants for
their day-to-day life Malayali tribes use
Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq leaves to make
meal plate Phoenix sylverstris Roxb leaves to
make broom stick Cyperus rotundus L
Ophiuros exalatus OKtz Oryza sativa L
Sorghum vulgare L are used for roofing and
thatching Mature stem of Cassia fistula Linn
Chloroxylon swietenia DC Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl and Terminalia
chebula Retz were used to make pounder
Mature stem of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam is
used to make churn-staff woody stem of
Mangifera indica L is used to make wood
grinder leaves of Cassia fistula Linn is used
for ripening of fruits Gmelina arborea Roxb
mature stem is used as a stick for musical
instrument the fibers from the leaf fibers of
Agave americana L and Agave angustifolia
Haw are used for making coir the culm of
Bambusa arundinacea Willd is used for
making various types of baskets leaves of
Corypha umbracalifer L is used for making
baskets and decoration in ceremonies
Wood forms an important construction
material for houses cattle sheds and temporary
settlements in the area Windows doors and
cots were chiefly made up of Albizia
odoratissima Benth Cleistanthus Collins
Benth Cordia wallichii G Don Dalberiga
lanceolaria L Diospyros edenum JKoeing
Gardenia resinifera Roth Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br Melia composite Willd
Shorea roxburghii Roxb Tectona grandis
Linn Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall and
Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk
Agricultural implements
For making agricultural implements four
species were used such as Chloroxylon
swietenia DC and Bumbusa arundinacea Willd
were used for making handle of axe and woody
stem of Anogeissus latifolia Wall and Tectona
grandis Linn is made in the shape of a harrow
by Malayali tribes
Plants used for Religious purposes
Ceremonial plant use is of principal
importance in daily Malayali tribe life and
many species have a specific ceremonial
significance generally associated with
blessings age-rites and witchcraft Some plants
are used as offerings to god among these tribes
Asclepias curassavica L Cassia montana
Heyne Clerodendrum serratum L and
Plumeria rubra L flowers are used in religious
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
practice to worship God Holarrhena
pubescens (Buch-Ham) WallexGDon
Wrightia tinctoria RBr mature stem are used
in all traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions
Malayali tribes believe that some of the
plants bring good fortune and keep off evil
spirits The exudates of Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb and Semecarpus
anacardium L are used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect them from evils
afflictions brush body with leaves and root of
Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake
bite brush body with leaves of Schefflera
racemosa Harms protect from evils afflictions
roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Aitf is
stitched together and then worn around the hip
to protect from evils afflictions rhizome of the
Acorus calamus Linn is made into pieces and
stitched together and worn around the neck of a
new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions
Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate
sexual desire ie Abrus pulchellus Wall
Alangium hexapetalum Lam Canthium
parviflorum Lam Drosera indica L Evolvulus
alsinoides Linn Ficus bengalensis Linn
Grewia tenax (forssk) fiori Mimosa pudica
Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn Ocimum canum
Sims and Randia dumetorum Lam
Plants used as Toothbrush
Malayali tribals generally use the young
twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn
Azadirachta indica AJuss Ficus glomerata
Roxb Ficus religosa Linn Jatropha curcas L
and Psidium guajava Linn areial root of Ficus
benghalensis Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn
rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula Retz
fruit powder are used as tooth powder
Plants used in Hair Nourishment
Heredity older age lack of nutrition
infections (such as worms lice scabies
dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic
products (soaps shampoos and hair oils) may
cause hair loss dandruff discoloration of hairs
Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant
resources for hair disorders For example
Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a
shampoo seeds of Argemone mexicana root of
Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening
the hairs flowers of Annona squamosa amp fruit
of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff
and kill lice whole plant parts of Andrographis
echioides flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia
calendulacea prevented hair loss
Table 1 List of plants used by Malayali Tribal people for NTFP in Yercaud hills
S
No
Botanical Name Vernacular Name
(Tamil)
Family Parts used Purposes
1 Abrus pulchellus
Wall
Vellaikuntumani Fabaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
2 Acorus calamus
Linn
Vasambu Araceae Rhizome Rhizome made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the neck of new born
baby to get rid from evils
afflictions
3 Agave americana L Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
4 Agave angustifolia
Haw
Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
5 Alangium
hexapetalum Lam
Earualangi Alangiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
6 Alangium salvifolium
Linn
Alangal Alangiaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
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of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
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Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
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yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
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Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
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Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
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Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
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Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
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Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
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Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
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ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
diameter of the inhibition zones around the
discs All tests were performed in triplicate
Then Petri dishes were incubated at 37degC
during 18 to 24h aerobically After incubation
inhibition zone diameters were measured and
documented
RESULTS
The hydro-distillation of the essential oil of
R officinalis gave a viscous liquid with a
whitish colour The average yield of essential
oil of the samples is 023 the highest rate
was observed in the essential oil of Kherrata
population (035) while the population of
Agmeroual was characterised by the lowest
yield (010) R officinalis of eastern Algeria
includes several chemotypes (Table 1) The
first chemotype to eucalyptol has two variants
the first variant (E-Ca-αP-C) characterizes
Kherrata population the second chemotype (E-
αP-Ca-C) characterizes the Bibans population
The difference of these two chemotype variants
is the concentration of Eucalyptol and camphor
The second chemotype to camphor had three
variants the variant (Ca-C-αP-E) characterized
Boussacircada population Agmeroual population
contained the variant (Ca-αP-C-E) while the
third variant (Ca-αP-E-C) of this chemotype
was found in the region of Ngaous The third
chemotype to α-pinene (αP-Ca-E-C) in R
officinalis of eastern Algeria characterized the
population of Boutaleb
The antibacterial activity of the essential oil
chemotypes was evaluated against nine bacteria
(Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 MRSA
(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923
Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 Pseudomonas
syringae Salmonella sp Serratia liquefaciens
ATCC 27592 Serratia marcescens ATCC
14756 and Shigella sp) The disc diameters of
inhibition zone of essential oils for the
microorganisms tested are grouped in Table 2
The results showed that the essential oils have
inhibited the growth of bacterial strains The
diameters of the inhibition zone are between (0
and 40 mm) these diameters depended on the
sensitivity of the bacteria tested
The essential oil chemotypes of Kherrata
and the Bibans regions generally exhibited
antibacterial activity against the
microorganismsrsquo tested with an inhibition
diameter between 7 and 15 mm The
chemotype of Bibans populations had a high
activity with a dilution frac12 on Staphylococcus
aureus with a diameter of 40 mm (Figure 2)
The camphor chemotype with three variants
exhibits a moderate antibacterial activity with
an inhibition diameter (7ndash20 mm) The
essential oil is active on Enterobacter cloacea
with different dilutions The dilution 12 of
Agmeroual chemotype inhibited Escherichia
coli strongly with a diameter of 20 mm and no
effect was seen on Pseudomonas syringae
(Figure 3)
The chemotype of Boutaleb (α-pinene
variant) had an inhibitory effect with an
inhibition diameter (7ndash15 mm) This
chemotype is active on Enterobacter cloacae
and no activity on Pseudomonas syringae in the
frac14 dilution (Figure 4)
Table 1 Volatile profile of Rosemary essential oils selected by chemotype (Lograda et al 2013)
Populations Kherrata Bibans Agmeroual Ngaous Boussaacircda Boutaleb
Yield (vv)
035 03 02 01 025 015
Chemotypes Eucalyptol Camphor α-pinene
E-Ca-αP-
C
E-αP-Ca-C Ca-αP-C-E Ca-αP-E-C Ca-C-αP-
E
αP-Ca-C-
E Eucalyptol 355 422 54 121 66 88
α-pinene 114 138 169 136 151 252
Camphor 145 91 388 169 427 241
Camphene 80 53 138 37 177 227 Chemotype classification in relation with the chemical compounds found in rosemary samples
E = eucalyptol αP = α-pinene Ca = camphor C = camphene
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Table 2 Inhibition diameter (mm) of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil chemotype
Populations Kherrata Bibans Boussacircada Agmeroual Nrsquogaous Boutaleb
Chemotypes E-Ca-αp-C E-αp-Ca-C Ca-C-αp-E Ca-αp-C-E Ca-αp-E-C αp-Ca-E-C
Bacteria G Dilution Dilution Dilution
frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18
1 14 15 13 11 20 10 11 10 9 11 20 9 8 8 8 12 10 12 10
2 0 12 12 9 15 11 10 10 8 9 11 10 8 8 7 14 13 10 10
3 14 10 9 9 11 15 10 9 7 12 12 8 8 10 12 14 15 8 11
4 10 12 13 12 12 9 10 19 7 10 0 0 0 10 9 9 7 0 11
5 16 9 8 10 13 7 12 10 10 10 7 7 7 10 12 11 10 8 10
6 10 11 8 14 15 9 13 15 10 15 13 10 11 10 8 9 14 13 12
7 12 8 8 10 10 9 8 9 12 10 15 11 10 8 7 7 12 10 13
8 15 11 9 12 40 15 10 10 15 15 8 7 0 15 12 10 10 8 10
9 25 10 9 12 12 13 13 20 15 12 20 12 15 10 13 11 11 11 10
1 Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 2 Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 3 MRSA = Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus 4 Pseudomonas syringae 5 Salmonella sp 6 Serratia liquefaciens ATCC 27592 7
Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756 8 Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 9 Shigella sp
G = Gentamicine E = eucalyptol αP = α-pinene Ca = camphor C = camphene
Figure 2 Antibacterial activity of Kherrata and Bibans chemotypes
G frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18
Dilution
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Inhib
itio
n d
iam
ete
r (m
m)
E-Ca-ap-C
KherrataE-ap-Ca- C
Bibans
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Figure 3 Antibacterial activity of Boussaada Agmeroual and Nrsquogaous Chemotypes
Figure 4 Antibacterial activity of Boutaleb Chemotype
Gentamicine
frac12
frac14
18
frac12
frac14
18
frac12
frac14
18
Dilution
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26In
hib
itio
n d
iam
ete
r (m
m)
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
Ca-C-ap-E Boussacircada Ca-ap-C-E AgmeroualCa-ap-E-C Nrsquogaous
G frac12 frac14 18
Dilution
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
Inh
ibit
ion
dia
met
er (
mm
)
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
ap-Ca-E-C Boutaleb
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
DISCUSSION
Our returns of the essential oil are low
compared to those of the literature This yield is
between 06 and 08 (Atti-Santos et al 2005
Bekkara et al 2007) Ayadi et al (2011) found
a yield (071ndash2) which indicates that the yield
of rosemary varies according to geographical
location
The chemical components of the essential
oil of R officinalis showed that α-pinene
camphene eucalyptol and camphor are the
major products (Jordan et al 2013 Mugnaini
et al 2012 Sienkiewicz et al 2013
Matsuzaki et al 2013 Derwich et al 2011
Fadli et al 2011 Jalali-Heravi et al 2011
Issabeagloo et al 2012 Hussain et al 2011
Mudasir et al 2012 Verma et al 2011 Yang
et al 2011 Sui et al 2012 Aderiana et al
2013 Lograda et al 2013)
Based on the majority of Rosemary
components the authors identified three
chemotypes (Issabeagloo et al 2012 Mudasir
et al 2012 Sui et al 2012 Mugnaini et al
2012 Jordan et al 2013 Sienkiewicz et al
2013 Matsuzaki et al 2013 Aderiana et al
2013) the same chemotypes are found in our
samples with the presence of five variants The
eastern Algeria samples showed an average
antibacterial activity on all tested bacteria the
same observations were mentioned in the
literature (Lopez et al 2005 Probuseenivasan
et al 2006 Fabio et al 2007 Jiang et al
2011 Sienkiewicz et al 2013) This may be
partly due to the fact that the essential oils
contained more oxygenated compounds and
these classes of compounds have been proved
to possess strong antibacterial activities (Deba
et al 2008)
Generally the essential oils of R officinalis
have shown broad spectra of activity against
the tested microorganisms the same findings
were made by Gachkar et al (2007) on some
species of the genus The antimicrobial
property of the essential oil of R officinalis is
attributed to the presence of α-pinene 18-
cineole camphor verbinone and borneol
(Santoyo et al 2005) the quantities of these
compounds were very high in our oils
CONCLUSION
Six variants of Rosemary chemotypes
localized in eastern Algeria were used in the
determination of the antimicrobial activity
against the gram positive and negative bacteria
by the disc diffusion method The essential oil
obtained by hydrodistillation was more active
against microorganisms than the antibiotic
gentamicine The essential oils showed
inhibition zones against all micro-organisms
tested The Results indicate that essential oils
of Rosmarinus officinalis present significant
antimicrobial activity This antimicrobial
activity can be linked to its higher content of
oxygenated compounds This study provides
additional data of antibacterial activity of the
essential oils of R officinalis growing in
Algeria
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The work was supported by Algerian
MESRS and Chemical Laboratory of
carbohydrates Heterocyclic of Clermont
Ferrant France
REFERENCES
Abutbul S Golan-Goldhirsh A Barazani O
Zilberg D (2004) Use of Rosmarinus
officinalis as a treatment against
Streptococcus iniae in tilapia
(Oreochromis sp) Aquaculture 238
97ndash105
Adriana M Ojeda-Sana C M van Baren M A
Elechosa M A Juarez S M (2013) New
insights into antibacterial and
antioxidant activities of rosemary
essential oils and their main
components Food Control 31 189ndash
195
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Altinier G Sosa S Aquino RP Mencherini T
Loggia RD Tubaro A (2007)
Characterization of topical
antiinflammatory compounds in
Rosmarinus officinalis L J Agric
Food Chem 55 1718ndash1723
Angioni A Barra A Cereti E Barile D
Coisson JD Arlorio M Dessi S
Coroneo V Cabras P (2004) Chemical
composition plant genetic differences
antimicrobial and antifungal activity
investigation of the essential of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry 52
3530ndash3535
Apostolides Nelly Arnold Marc El Beyrouthy
Wissal Dhifi Samir Najm Fabrice
Cazier Wafaa Najem Madonna Labaki
Antoine AbouKaiumls (2013) Chemical
Composition of Aerial Parts of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Growing Wild in Lebanon Journal of
Essential Oil Bearing Plants 16(2)
274ndash282
Atti-Santos Ana Cristina Marcelo Rossato
Gabriel Fernandes Pauletti Luciana
Duarte Rota Juarez Ciro Rech Marcia
Regina Pansera Fabiana Agostini
Luciana Atti Serafini and Patrick
Moyna (2005) Physico-chemical
Evaluation of Rosmarinus officinalis L
Essential Oils Brazilian Archives of
Biology and Technology 48(6) 1035ndash
1039
Ayadi S Jerribi C Abderrabba M (2011)
Extraction et eacutetude des huiles
essentielles de Rosmarinus Officinalis
cueillie dans trois reacutegions diffeacuterentes de
la Tunisie Journal de la Socieacuteteacute
Algeacuterienne de Chimie 21(1) 25ndash33
Bekkara F Atik Bousmaha L Taleb Bendiab S
A Boti J B Casanova J (2007)
Composition chimique de lrsquohuile
essentielle de Rosmarinus officinalis L
poussant agrave lrsquoeacutetat spontaneacute et cultiveacute de
la reacutegion de Tlemcen Biologie amp Santeacute
7(1) 6ndash11
Bendeddouche M S Benhassaini H Hazem Z
Romane A (2011) Essential oil analysis
and antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
tournefortii from Algeria Nat Prod
Commun 6 1511ndash1514
Bozin B Mimica-Dukic N Samojlik I Jovin E
(2007) Antimicrobial and antioxidant
properties of rosemary and sage
(Rosmarinus officinalis L and Salvia
officinalis L Lamiaceae) essential oils
Journal of Agricultural and Food
Chemistry 55 7879ndash7885
Calin-Sanchez Angel Antoni Szumny Adam
Figiel Klaudiusz Jałoszynski Maciej
Adamski Angel A Carbonell-
Barrachin (2011) Effects of vacuum
level and microwave power on
rosemary volatile composition during
vacuumndashmicrowave drying Journal of
Food Engineering 103 219ndash227
Cheung S Tai J (2001) Anti-proliferative and
antioxidant properties of rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis Oncol Rep 17
1525ndash1531
Deba F Xuan TD Yasudaa M Tawata S
(2008) Chemical composition and
antioxidant antibacterial and antifungal
activities of the essential oils from
Bidens pilosa Linn var Radiata Food
Control 19 346ndash352
Derwich E Benziane Z Chabir R (2011)
Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of
Morocco Chemical Composition of
essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis
and Juniperus Phoenicea International
Journal of Applied Biology and
Pharmaceutical Technology 2(1) 145ndash
153
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Diaz-Maroto MC Perez-Coello MS Sanchez-
Palomo E Gonzalez-Vinas MA (2007)
Impact of drying and storage time on
sensory characteristics of rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis L) Journal of
Sensory Studies 22 34ndash48
Fabio A Cermelli C Fabio G Nicoletti P
Quaglio P (2007) Screening of the
antibacterial effects of a variety of
essential oils on microorganisms
responsible for respiratory infections
Phytother Res 21 374ndash377
Fadli Mariam Jacqueline Chevalier Asmaa
Saad Nour-Eddine Mezrioui Lahcen
Hassani Jean-Marie Pages (2011)
Essential oils from Moroccan plants as
potential chemosensitisers restoring
antibiotic activity in resistant Gram-
negative bacteria International Journal
of Antimicrobial Agents 38 325ndash330
Faixov ZR Faix S (2008) Biological effects of
Rosmary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
essensial oil (A Review) Folia
Veterinaria 5(3-4) 135ndash139
Gachkar L Yadegari D Rezaei MB
Taghizadeh M Astaneh SA Rasooli I
(2007) Chemical and biological
characteristics of Cuminum cyminum
and Rosmarinus officinalis essential
oils Food Chemistry 102 898ndash904
Hussain Abdullah I Farooq Anwar Poonam S
Nigam Satyajit D Sarker John E
Moore Juluri R Rao Anisha Mazumdar
(2011) Antibacterial activity of some
Lamiaceae essential oils using resazurin
as an indicator of cell growth LWT
Food Science and Technology 44
1199ndash1206
Issabeagloo Eilyad Parviz Kermanizadeh
Mohammad Taghizadieh Reza Forughi
(2012) Antimicrobial effects of
rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L)
essential oils against Staphylococcus
spp African Journal of Microbiology
Research 6(23) 5039ndash5042
Jalali-Heravi Mehdi Rudabeh Sadat Moazeni
Hassan Sereshti (2011) Analysis of
Iranian rosemary essential oil
Application of gas chromatographyndash
mass spectrometry combined with
chemometrics Journal of
Chromatography A 1218 2569ndash2576
Jiang Y Wu N Fu Y-J Wang W Luo M Zhao
CJ Zu YG Liu XL (2011) Chemical
composition and antimicrobial activity
of the essential oil of Rosemary
Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 32 63ndash
68
Jordan MJ Lax V Martinez C Aouissat M
Sotomayor JA 2011 Chemical
intraspecific variability and chemotypes
determination of Rosmarinus officinalis
L in the region of Murcia Acta
Horticulturae 925 109ndash114
Jordan MJ Vanesa Lax Maria C Rota Susana
Loran Joseacute A Sotomayor (2013)
Effect of bioclimatic area on the
essential oil composition and
antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L Food Control 30 463ndash
468
Kadri Adel Zied Zarai Ines BenChobba
Ahmed Beacutekir Neacuteji Gharsallah
Mohamed Damak Radhouane Gdoura
(2011) Chemical constituents and
antioxidant properties of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil cultivated
from the South-Western of Tunisia
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research
5(29) 6502ndash6508
Lopez P Sanchez C Battle R Nerin C (2005)
Soilid- and vapour-phase antimicrobial
activities of six essential oils
Susceptibility of selected foodborne
bacterial and fungal strains Agric Food
Chem 53 6939ndash6946
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Maistro EL Mota SF Lima EB Bernardes
BM Goulart FC (2010) Genotoxicity
and mutagenicity of Rosmarinus
officinalis (Labiatae) essential oil in
mammalian cells in vivo Genetics and
Molecular Research 9(4) 2113ndash2122
Martins MR Tinoco MT Almeida AS Cruz-
Morais J (2012) Chemical
Composition Antioxidant and
Antimicrobial properties of three
Essential oils from Portuguese Flora
Journal of Pharmacognosy 3(1) 39ndash44
Masuda T Inaba Y Takeda Y (2001)
Antioxidant mechanism of carnosic
acid structural identification of two
oxidation products J Agric Food
Chem 49 5560ndash5565
Matsuzaki Yusuke Toshiyuki Tsujisawa
Tatsuji Nishihara Mari Nakamura
Yasuaki Kakinoki (2013) Antifungal
activity of chemotype essential oils
from rosemary against Candida
albicans Open Journal of Stomatology
3 176ndash182
Mudasir A Tantry Syed Shabir Reehana Khan
Afsha Habib Seema Akbar (2012)
Determination of Essential Oil
Composition of Rosmarinus officinalis
Growing as Exotic species in Kashmir
Valley Chemistry of Natural
Compounds 47(6) 1012ndash1014
Mugnaini L Nardoni S Pinto L Pistelli L
Leonardi M Pisseri F Mancianti F
(2012) In vitro and in vivo antifungal
activity of some essential oils against
feline isolates of Microsporum canis
Journal de Mycologie Meacutedicale 22
179ndash184
Pino JA Estrarron M Fuentes V (1998)
Essential Oil of Rosemary (Rosmarinus
Officinalis L) from Cuba J Essent Oil
Res 10 111
Poeckel D Greiner C Verhoff M Rau O
Tausch L Heornig C Steinhilber D
Schubert-Zsilavecz M Werz O (2008)
Carnosic acid and carnosol potently
inhibit human 5-lipoxygenase and
suppress pro-inflammatory responses of
stimulated human polymorphonuclear
leukocytes Biochem Pharmacol 76
91ndash97
Prabuseenivasan S Jayakumar M Ignacimuthu
S (2006) In vitro antibacterial activity
of some plant essential oils BMC
Complement Altern Med 6 39
Reichling J Schnitzler P Suschke U Saller R
(2009) Essential oils of aromatic plants
with antibacterial antifungal antiviral
and cytotoxic properties-An overview
Forsch Komplementmed 16 79ndash90
Salido S Altarejos J Nogueras M Sanchez A
Luque P (2003) Chemical composition
and seasonal variations of rosemary oil
from Southern Spain Journal of
Essentials Oil Research 15 10ndash14
Santoyo S Cavero S Jaime L Ibanez E
Senorans FJ Reglero G (2005)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil obtained via
supercritical fluid extraction Journal of
Food Protection 68(4) 790ndash795
Sienkiewicz M Kowalczyk E Wasiela M
(2012) Recent patents regarding
essential oils and the significance of
their constituents in human health and
treatment Recent Pat Anti Infect Drug
Discov 7 133ndash140
Sienkiewicz Monika Monika Lysakowska
Marta Pastuszka Wojciech Bienias
Edward Kowalczyk (2013) The
Potential of Use Basil and Rosemary
Essential Oils as Effective Antibacterial
Agents Molecules 18 9334ndash9351
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Sui Xiaoyu Tingting Liu Chunhui Ma Lei
Yang Yuangang Zu Lin Zhang Hua
Wang (2012) Microwave irradiation to
pretreat rosemary (Rosmarinus
officinalis L) for maintaining
antioxidant content during storage and
to extract essential oil simultaneously
Food Chemistry 131 1399ndash1405
Szumny Antoni Adam Figiel Antonio
Gutierrez-Ortiz Angel A Carbonell
Barrachina (2010) Composition of
rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus
officinalis) as affected by drying
method Journal of Food Engineering
97 253ndash260
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre
Chalard Gilles Figueredo (2013)
Characteristics of Essential oils of
Rosmarinus officinalis from eastern
Algeria Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med 2(12) 794ndash807
Varela F Navarrete P Cristobal R Fanlo M
Melero R Sotomayor J A (2009)
Variability in the chemical composition
of wild Rosmarinus officinalis L Acta
Horticulturae 826 167ndash174
Verma Ram S Laiqur Rahman Sunita Mishra
Rajesh K V Amit Chauhan Anand
Singh (2011) Changes in essential oil
content and composition of leaf and leaf
powder of Rosmarinus officinalis cv
CIM-Hariyali during storage Maejo Int
J Sci Technol 5(02) 181ndash190
Viuda-Martos M El Gendy A E-N G S
Sendra E Fernandez-Lopez J Abd El
Razik K A Omer E A Jose A Perez-
Alvarez (2010) Chemical composition
and antioxidant and anti-Listeria
activities of essential oils obtained from
some Egyptian plants Journal
Agriculture Food Chemistry 58(16)
9063ndash9070
Wang Wei Nan Li Meng Luo Yuangang Zu
Thomas Efferth (2012) Antibacterial
Activity and Anticancer Activity of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Compared to That of Its Main
Components Molecules 17 2704ndash
2713
Yang Jiang Nan Wu Yu-Jie Fu Wei Wang
Meng Luo Chun-Jian Zhao Yuan-
Gang Zu Xiao-Lei Liu (2011)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of the essential oil
of Rosemary Environmental
Toxicology and Pharmacology 32 63ndash
68
Zaouali Y Messaoud C BenSalah A Boussaid
M (2005) Oil composition variability
among populations in relationship with
their ecological areas in Tunisian
Rosmarinus officinalis L Flavour
Fragrance J 20 512ndash520
Source of Support Algerian MESRS and
Chemical Laboratory of carbohydrates
Heterocyclic of Clermont Ferrant France
Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS
SALEM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU INDIA
Rekha R
1 Senthil Kumar S
2
1 2PG and Research Department of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and Science for Women
(Autonomous) Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal(DT) Tamil Nadu India
Corresponding Author E- Mail rekha87rajagmailcom
Received 26042014 Revised 24052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
An ethno-botanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills Southern
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu India during November 2012ndashMarch 2014 This study
mainly focused on the plants used by the Malayali tribes for various purposes (Construction
materials house hold implements brushing fuel wood agriculture tools religious decorative to
ward off evil spirits) through standardized questionnaires interviews and discussions with very old
and knowledgeable tribals A total of 84 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 42 families were
recorded in the present study These extremely important plants should be taken into account and
steps have to be taken to increase their production for future benefit
KEY WORDS Yercaud hills Malayali tribes Ethno-botany
Research Article
Cite this article
Rekha R Senthil Kumar S (2014) ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS SALEM DISTRICT
TAMIL NADU INDIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 243ndash251
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
Plants are used against a number of
diseases by many indigenous communities in
traditional medicine plants are also used in
building materials fodder weapons and other
commodities of economical importance The
tribal people are economically backward ethnic
groups and constitute separate socio-cultural
groups Many local and indigenous
communities in Asian countries meet their
basic needs from the forest products they
manufacture and sell based on their traditional
knowledge (John Kennedy 2006) Yercaud
hills have been gifted with enormous number
of plant species Tribal people living in
Yercaud hills depend on these plants for their
survival These plants play a vital role in their
life as these people depend on the forest wealth
to meet their needs Their economic condition
is determined by these plants Yercaud hill
range is situated to the north-east part of
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu
India with rich vegetation and it covers an area
of 150 square miles (390 Sq km) It lies
between 11deg45rsquo56rdquo N latitude and 78deg17rsquo55rdquo E
longitude The temperature ranges from 13degC
to 29degC on the peaks and 25degC to 40degC at the
foot hills The average annual rainfall is around
1500ndash1750 mm The indigenous people
inhabiting Yercaud hill are called Malayali the
oldest group of the branch of the ethnic group
in South India Malayali simply means a hill
person an appellation distinguishing them from
the people of plains In physical appearance
they scarcely differ from the people of plains
They speak Tamil dialect of their own They
are supposed to be descendants of
Kanchipuram vellalar They appear to have
migrated from Kanchipuram (a town near
Chennai Tamil Nadu India) between seventh
and eleventh centuries The tribals are mostly
working as casual laborers in coffee estates
They are cultivating food grains fruits and
vegetable (Alagesaboopathi et al 1996)
Malayali tribals use more number of plants for
various purposes like for making construction
materials house hold implements brushing
plants fuel wood agriculture tools religious
decorative to ward off evil spirits etc This
study enumerates such useful plants which are
used by Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills
Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu India
Data Collection
Frequent field surveys were carried out in
Yercaud hills in different seasons during
November 2012ndashMarch 2014 Information on the plants was collected through personal
interview with village headman farmers and
other knowledgeable tribals The interviews
were conducted in the local language (Tamil)
the information includes local names plant
parts used and method of utilization was
gathered from them with regard to each plant
The collected information was recorded on
field note books and plants were identified
using the Flora of the Presidency of Madras
(Gamble 1935) and Flora of Tamil Nadu-
Carnatic (Matthew 1983) Plant specimens
were deposited for future references in the
Botany department Vivekanandha College of
Arts and Sciences for women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal
(DT) Tamil Nadu India
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The present study focused mainly on the
role of non timber forest products in the
livelihood of Malayali tribes of Yercaud hills
Salem district Tamil Nadu India During the
study period 84 plant species belonging to 70
genera and 42 families were identified to be
utilized by Malayali tribes (Table 1) The
reported plants were arranged to their
Botanical Name Vernacular name as recorded
during field work habit and uses Plants
utilized by Malayali tribes can be classified
under various categories like fuel wood plants
house construction and house hold implements
agriculture tools religious importance plants
plants used to ward off evil afflictions hair
care and toothbrush The plants listed mainly
belong to Rubiaceae (6 species) followed by
Fabaceae and Moraceae (5 species)
Mimosaceae Rutaceae and Poaceae (4
species) Combretaceae Anacardiaceae
Euphorbiaceae Apocynaceae (3 species)
Asparagaceae Alangiaceae Asclepidaceae
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Meliaceae Caesalpiniaceae Verbenaceae
Arecaceae Ebenaceae Lamiaceae Tiliaceae
Myrtaceae and Dipterocarpaceae (2 species)
Araceae Acanthaceae Annonaceae
Papaveraceae Bambusaceae Borangiaceae
Cyperaceae Droseraceae Proteaceae
Convolvulaceae Gyrocarpeaceae Ulmaceae
Malvaceae Lythraceae Nyctaginaceae
Moringaceae Salicaceae Araliaceae
Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species) From
the study it was observed that 51 taxa are trees
(60) 23 taxa are herbs (20) and 10 taxa are
shrub (12)
Fire wood plants
One of the most important non timber
forest products for daily life is fuel wood the
only means of energy source of Malayali
tribes The fuel wood species are collected
from the forest near to the hamlets The species
preferred for fire wood to their comfortable
availability and inflammability According to
Malayali tribes which are not considered as a
source of good timber are treated as fire wood
The fire wood utilized by Malayali tribes
belong to 15 species 15 genera and 10
families they are Albizzia lebbeck Benth
Bauhinia tomentosa L Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb Chomelia astiactica OKze
Diospyros montana Roxb Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq Holopetela integrifolia
(Roxb) Planch Mallotus philippensis M Arg
Moringa oleifera Lamk Plectronia didyma
Kurz Salix tetrasperma Roxb Shorea robusta
Roth Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels Terminalia
bellerica Roxb and Zanthoxylum budrunga
Wall
House construction and house hold
implements
Malayali tribes have good Knowledge to
use natural resources specifically plants for
their day-to-day life Malayali tribes use
Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq leaves to make
meal plate Phoenix sylverstris Roxb leaves to
make broom stick Cyperus rotundus L
Ophiuros exalatus OKtz Oryza sativa L
Sorghum vulgare L are used for roofing and
thatching Mature stem of Cassia fistula Linn
Chloroxylon swietenia DC Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl and Terminalia
chebula Retz were used to make pounder
Mature stem of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam is
used to make churn-staff woody stem of
Mangifera indica L is used to make wood
grinder leaves of Cassia fistula Linn is used
for ripening of fruits Gmelina arborea Roxb
mature stem is used as a stick for musical
instrument the fibers from the leaf fibers of
Agave americana L and Agave angustifolia
Haw are used for making coir the culm of
Bambusa arundinacea Willd is used for
making various types of baskets leaves of
Corypha umbracalifer L is used for making
baskets and decoration in ceremonies
Wood forms an important construction
material for houses cattle sheds and temporary
settlements in the area Windows doors and
cots were chiefly made up of Albizia
odoratissima Benth Cleistanthus Collins
Benth Cordia wallichii G Don Dalberiga
lanceolaria L Diospyros edenum JKoeing
Gardenia resinifera Roth Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br Melia composite Willd
Shorea roxburghii Roxb Tectona grandis
Linn Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall and
Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk
Agricultural implements
For making agricultural implements four
species were used such as Chloroxylon
swietenia DC and Bumbusa arundinacea Willd
were used for making handle of axe and woody
stem of Anogeissus latifolia Wall and Tectona
grandis Linn is made in the shape of a harrow
by Malayali tribes
Plants used for Religious purposes
Ceremonial plant use is of principal
importance in daily Malayali tribe life and
many species have a specific ceremonial
significance generally associated with
blessings age-rites and witchcraft Some plants
are used as offerings to god among these tribes
Asclepias curassavica L Cassia montana
Heyne Clerodendrum serratum L and
Plumeria rubra L flowers are used in religious
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
practice to worship God Holarrhena
pubescens (Buch-Ham) WallexGDon
Wrightia tinctoria RBr mature stem are used
in all traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions
Malayali tribes believe that some of the
plants bring good fortune and keep off evil
spirits The exudates of Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb and Semecarpus
anacardium L are used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect them from evils
afflictions brush body with leaves and root of
Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake
bite brush body with leaves of Schefflera
racemosa Harms protect from evils afflictions
roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Aitf is
stitched together and then worn around the hip
to protect from evils afflictions rhizome of the
Acorus calamus Linn is made into pieces and
stitched together and worn around the neck of a
new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions
Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate
sexual desire ie Abrus pulchellus Wall
Alangium hexapetalum Lam Canthium
parviflorum Lam Drosera indica L Evolvulus
alsinoides Linn Ficus bengalensis Linn
Grewia tenax (forssk) fiori Mimosa pudica
Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn Ocimum canum
Sims and Randia dumetorum Lam
Plants used as Toothbrush
Malayali tribals generally use the young
twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn
Azadirachta indica AJuss Ficus glomerata
Roxb Ficus religosa Linn Jatropha curcas L
and Psidium guajava Linn areial root of Ficus
benghalensis Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn
rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula Retz
fruit powder are used as tooth powder
Plants used in Hair Nourishment
Heredity older age lack of nutrition
infections (such as worms lice scabies
dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic
products (soaps shampoos and hair oils) may
cause hair loss dandruff discoloration of hairs
Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant
resources for hair disorders For example
Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a
shampoo seeds of Argemone mexicana root of
Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening
the hairs flowers of Annona squamosa amp fruit
of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff
and kill lice whole plant parts of Andrographis
echioides flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia
calendulacea prevented hair loss
Table 1 List of plants used by Malayali Tribal people for NTFP in Yercaud hills
S
No
Botanical Name Vernacular Name
(Tamil)
Family Parts used Purposes
1 Abrus pulchellus
Wall
Vellaikuntumani Fabaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
2 Acorus calamus
Linn
Vasambu Araceae Rhizome Rhizome made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the neck of new born
baby to get rid from evils
afflictions
3 Agave americana L Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
4 Agave angustifolia
Haw
Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
5 Alangium
hexapetalum Lam
Earualangi Alangiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
6 Alangium salvifolium
Linn
Alangal Alangiaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
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need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
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were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
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have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
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some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
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Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
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of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
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Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
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Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Table 2 Inhibition diameter (mm) of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil chemotype
Populations Kherrata Bibans Boussacircada Agmeroual Nrsquogaous Boutaleb
Chemotypes E-Ca-αp-C E-αp-Ca-C Ca-C-αp-E Ca-αp-C-E Ca-αp-E-C αp-Ca-E-C
Bacteria G Dilution Dilution Dilution
frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18
1 14 15 13 11 20 10 11 10 9 11 20 9 8 8 8 12 10 12 10
2 0 12 12 9 15 11 10 10 8 9 11 10 8 8 7 14 13 10 10
3 14 10 9 9 11 15 10 9 7 12 12 8 8 10 12 14 15 8 11
4 10 12 13 12 12 9 10 19 7 10 0 0 0 10 9 9 7 0 11
5 16 9 8 10 13 7 12 10 10 10 7 7 7 10 12 11 10 8 10
6 10 11 8 14 15 9 13 15 10 15 13 10 11 10 8 9 14 13 12
7 12 8 8 10 10 9 8 9 12 10 15 11 10 8 7 7 12 10 13
8 15 11 9 12 40 15 10 10 15 15 8 7 0 15 12 10 10 8 10
9 25 10 9 12 12 13 13 20 15 12 20 12 15 10 13 11 11 11 10
1 Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 2 Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047 3 MRSA = Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus 4 Pseudomonas syringae 5 Salmonella sp 6 Serratia liquefaciens ATCC 27592 7
Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756 8 Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 9 Shigella sp
G = Gentamicine E = eucalyptol αP = α-pinene Ca = camphor C = camphene
Figure 2 Antibacterial activity of Kherrata and Bibans chemotypes
G frac12 frac14 18 frac12 frac14 18
Dilution
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Inhib
itio
n d
iam
ete
r (m
m)
E-Ca-ap-C
KherrataE-ap-Ca- C
Bibans
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Figure 3 Antibacterial activity of Boussaada Agmeroual and Nrsquogaous Chemotypes
Figure 4 Antibacterial activity of Boutaleb Chemotype
Gentamicine
frac12
frac14
18
frac12
frac14
18
frac12
frac14
18
Dilution
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26In
hib
itio
n d
iam
ete
r (m
m)
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
Ca-C-ap-E Boussacircada Ca-ap-C-E AgmeroualCa-ap-E-C Nrsquogaous
G frac12 frac14 18
Dilution
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
Inh
ibit
ion
dia
met
er (
mm
)
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
ap-Ca-E-C Boutaleb
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
DISCUSSION
Our returns of the essential oil are low
compared to those of the literature This yield is
between 06 and 08 (Atti-Santos et al 2005
Bekkara et al 2007) Ayadi et al (2011) found
a yield (071ndash2) which indicates that the yield
of rosemary varies according to geographical
location
The chemical components of the essential
oil of R officinalis showed that α-pinene
camphene eucalyptol and camphor are the
major products (Jordan et al 2013 Mugnaini
et al 2012 Sienkiewicz et al 2013
Matsuzaki et al 2013 Derwich et al 2011
Fadli et al 2011 Jalali-Heravi et al 2011
Issabeagloo et al 2012 Hussain et al 2011
Mudasir et al 2012 Verma et al 2011 Yang
et al 2011 Sui et al 2012 Aderiana et al
2013 Lograda et al 2013)
Based on the majority of Rosemary
components the authors identified three
chemotypes (Issabeagloo et al 2012 Mudasir
et al 2012 Sui et al 2012 Mugnaini et al
2012 Jordan et al 2013 Sienkiewicz et al
2013 Matsuzaki et al 2013 Aderiana et al
2013) the same chemotypes are found in our
samples with the presence of five variants The
eastern Algeria samples showed an average
antibacterial activity on all tested bacteria the
same observations were mentioned in the
literature (Lopez et al 2005 Probuseenivasan
et al 2006 Fabio et al 2007 Jiang et al
2011 Sienkiewicz et al 2013) This may be
partly due to the fact that the essential oils
contained more oxygenated compounds and
these classes of compounds have been proved
to possess strong antibacterial activities (Deba
et al 2008)
Generally the essential oils of R officinalis
have shown broad spectra of activity against
the tested microorganisms the same findings
were made by Gachkar et al (2007) on some
species of the genus The antimicrobial
property of the essential oil of R officinalis is
attributed to the presence of α-pinene 18-
cineole camphor verbinone and borneol
(Santoyo et al 2005) the quantities of these
compounds were very high in our oils
CONCLUSION
Six variants of Rosemary chemotypes
localized in eastern Algeria were used in the
determination of the antimicrobial activity
against the gram positive and negative bacteria
by the disc diffusion method The essential oil
obtained by hydrodistillation was more active
against microorganisms than the antibiotic
gentamicine The essential oils showed
inhibition zones against all micro-organisms
tested The Results indicate that essential oils
of Rosmarinus officinalis present significant
antimicrobial activity This antimicrobial
activity can be linked to its higher content of
oxygenated compounds This study provides
additional data of antibacterial activity of the
essential oils of R officinalis growing in
Algeria
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The work was supported by Algerian
MESRS and Chemical Laboratory of
carbohydrates Heterocyclic of Clermont
Ferrant France
REFERENCES
Abutbul S Golan-Goldhirsh A Barazani O
Zilberg D (2004) Use of Rosmarinus
officinalis as a treatment against
Streptococcus iniae in tilapia
(Oreochromis sp) Aquaculture 238
97ndash105
Adriana M Ojeda-Sana C M van Baren M A
Elechosa M A Juarez S M (2013) New
insights into antibacterial and
antioxidant activities of rosemary
essential oils and their main
components Food Control 31 189ndash
195
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Altinier G Sosa S Aquino RP Mencherini T
Loggia RD Tubaro A (2007)
Characterization of topical
antiinflammatory compounds in
Rosmarinus officinalis L J Agric
Food Chem 55 1718ndash1723
Angioni A Barra A Cereti E Barile D
Coisson JD Arlorio M Dessi S
Coroneo V Cabras P (2004) Chemical
composition plant genetic differences
antimicrobial and antifungal activity
investigation of the essential of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry 52
3530ndash3535
Apostolides Nelly Arnold Marc El Beyrouthy
Wissal Dhifi Samir Najm Fabrice
Cazier Wafaa Najem Madonna Labaki
Antoine AbouKaiumls (2013) Chemical
Composition of Aerial Parts of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Growing Wild in Lebanon Journal of
Essential Oil Bearing Plants 16(2)
274ndash282
Atti-Santos Ana Cristina Marcelo Rossato
Gabriel Fernandes Pauletti Luciana
Duarte Rota Juarez Ciro Rech Marcia
Regina Pansera Fabiana Agostini
Luciana Atti Serafini and Patrick
Moyna (2005) Physico-chemical
Evaluation of Rosmarinus officinalis L
Essential Oils Brazilian Archives of
Biology and Technology 48(6) 1035ndash
1039
Ayadi S Jerribi C Abderrabba M (2011)
Extraction et eacutetude des huiles
essentielles de Rosmarinus Officinalis
cueillie dans trois reacutegions diffeacuterentes de
la Tunisie Journal de la Socieacuteteacute
Algeacuterienne de Chimie 21(1) 25ndash33
Bekkara F Atik Bousmaha L Taleb Bendiab S
A Boti J B Casanova J (2007)
Composition chimique de lrsquohuile
essentielle de Rosmarinus officinalis L
poussant agrave lrsquoeacutetat spontaneacute et cultiveacute de
la reacutegion de Tlemcen Biologie amp Santeacute
7(1) 6ndash11
Bendeddouche M S Benhassaini H Hazem Z
Romane A (2011) Essential oil analysis
and antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
tournefortii from Algeria Nat Prod
Commun 6 1511ndash1514
Bozin B Mimica-Dukic N Samojlik I Jovin E
(2007) Antimicrobial and antioxidant
properties of rosemary and sage
(Rosmarinus officinalis L and Salvia
officinalis L Lamiaceae) essential oils
Journal of Agricultural and Food
Chemistry 55 7879ndash7885
Calin-Sanchez Angel Antoni Szumny Adam
Figiel Klaudiusz Jałoszynski Maciej
Adamski Angel A Carbonell-
Barrachin (2011) Effects of vacuum
level and microwave power on
rosemary volatile composition during
vacuumndashmicrowave drying Journal of
Food Engineering 103 219ndash227
Cheung S Tai J (2001) Anti-proliferative and
antioxidant properties of rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis Oncol Rep 17
1525ndash1531
Deba F Xuan TD Yasudaa M Tawata S
(2008) Chemical composition and
antioxidant antibacterial and antifungal
activities of the essential oils from
Bidens pilosa Linn var Radiata Food
Control 19 346ndash352
Derwich E Benziane Z Chabir R (2011)
Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of
Morocco Chemical Composition of
essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis
and Juniperus Phoenicea International
Journal of Applied Biology and
Pharmaceutical Technology 2(1) 145ndash
153
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Diaz-Maroto MC Perez-Coello MS Sanchez-
Palomo E Gonzalez-Vinas MA (2007)
Impact of drying and storage time on
sensory characteristics of rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis L) Journal of
Sensory Studies 22 34ndash48
Fabio A Cermelli C Fabio G Nicoletti P
Quaglio P (2007) Screening of the
antibacterial effects of a variety of
essential oils on microorganisms
responsible for respiratory infections
Phytother Res 21 374ndash377
Fadli Mariam Jacqueline Chevalier Asmaa
Saad Nour-Eddine Mezrioui Lahcen
Hassani Jean-Marie Pages (2011)
Essential oils from Moroccan plants as
potential chemosensitisers restoring
antibiotic activity in resistant Gram-
negative bacteria International Journal
of Antimicrobial Agents 38 325ndash330
Faixov ZR Faix S (2008) Biological effects of
Rosmary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
essensial oil (A Review) Folia
Veterinaria 5(3-4) 135ndash139
Gachkar L Yadegari D Rezaei MB
Taghizadeh M Astaneh SA Rasooli I
(2007) Chemical and biological
characteristics of Cuminum cyminum
and Rosmarinus officinalis essential
oils Food Chemistry 102 898ndash904
Hussain Abdullah I Farooq Anwar Poonam S
Nigam Satyajit D Sarker John E
Moore Juluri R Rao Anisha Mazumdar
(2011) Antibacterial activity of some
Lamiaceae essential oils using resazurin
as an indicator of cell growth LWT
Food Science and Technology 44
1199ndash1206
Issabeagloo Eilyad Parviz Kermanizadeh
Mohammad Taghizadieh Reza Forughi
(2012) Antimicrobial effects of
rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L)
essential oils against Staphylococcus
spp African Journal of Microbiology
Research 6(23) 5039ndash5042
Jalali-Heravi Mehdi Rudabeh Sadat Moazeni
Hassan Sereshti (2011) Analysis of
Iranian rosemary essential oil
Application of gas chromatographyndash
mass spectrometry combined with
chemometrics Journal of
Chromatography A 1218 2569ndash2576
Jiang Y Wu N Fu Y-J Wang W Luo M Zhao
CJ Zu YG Liu XL (2011) Chemical
composition and antimicrobial activity
of the essential oil of Rosemary
Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 32 63ndash
68
Jordan MJ Lax V Martinez C Aouissat M
Sotomayor JA 2011 Chemical
intraspecific variability and chemotypes
determination of Rosmarinus officinalis
L in the region of Murcia Acta
Horticulturae 925 109ndash114
Jordan MJ Vanesa Lax Maria C Rota Susana
Loran Joseacute A Sotomayor (2013)
Effect of bioclimatic area on the
essential oil composition and
antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L Food Control 30 463ndash
468
Kadri Adel Zied Zarai Ines BenChobba
Ahmed Beacutekir Neacuteji Gharsallah
Mohamed Damak Radhouane Gdoura
(2011) Chemical constituents and
antioxidant properties of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil cultivated
from the South-Western of Tunisia
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research
5(29) 6502ndash6508
Lopez P Sanchez C Battle R Nerin C (2005)
Soilid- and vapour-phase antimicrobial
activities of six essential oils
Susceptibility of selected foodborne
bacterial and fungal strains Agric Food
Chem 53 6939ndash6946
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Maistro EL Mota SF Lima EB Bernardes
BM Goulart FC (2010) Genotoxicity
and mutagenicity of Rosmarinus
officinalis (Labiatae) essential oil in
mammalian cells in vivo Genetics and
Molecular Research 9(4) 2113ndash2122
Martins MR Tinoco MT Almeida AS Cruz-
Morais J (2012) Chemical
Composition Antioxidant and
Antimicrobial properties of three
Essential oils from Portuguese Flora
Journal of Pharmacognosy 3(1) 39ndash44
Masuda T Inaba Y Takeda Y (2001)
Antioxidant mechanism of carnosic
acid structural identification of two
oxidation products J Agric Food
Chem 49 5560ndash5565
Matsuzaki Yusuke Toshiyuki Tsujisawa
Tatsuji Nishihara Mari Nakamura
Yasuaki Kakinoki (2013) Antifungal
activity of chemotype essential oils
from rosemary against Candida
albicans Open Journal of Stomatology
3 176ndash182
Mudasir A Tantry Syed Shabir Reehana Khan
Afsha Habib Seema Akbar (2012)
Determination of Essential Oil
Composition of Rosmarinus officinalis
Growing as Exotic species in Kashmir
Valley Chemistry of Natural
Compounds 47(6) 1012ndash1014
Mugnaini L Nardoni S Pinto L Pistelli L
Leonardi M Pisseri F Mancianti F
(2012) In vitro and in vivo antifungal
activity of some essential oils against
feline isolates of Microsporum canis
Journal de Mycologie Meacutedicale 22
179ndash184
Pino JA Estrarron M Fuentes V (1998)
Essential Oil of Rosemary (Rosmarinus
Officinalis L) from Cuba J Essent Oil
Res 10 111
Poeckel D Greiner C Verhoff M Rau O
Tausch L Heornig C Steinhilber D
Schubert-Zsilavecz M Werz O (2008)
Carnosic acid and carnosol potently
inhibit human 5-lipoxygenase and
suppress pro-inflammatory responses of
stimulated human polymorphonuclear
leukocytes Biochem Pharmacol 76
91ndash97
Prabuseenivasan S Jayakumar M Ignacimuthu
S (2006) In vitro antibacterial activity
of some plant essential oils BMC
Complement Altern Med 6 39
Reichling J Schnitzler P Suschke U Saller R
(2009) Essential oils of aromatic plants
with antibacterial antifungal antiviral
and cytotoxic properties-An overview
Forsch Komplementmed 16 79ndash90
Salido S Altarejos J Nogueras M Sanchez A
Luque P (2003) Chemical composition
and seasonal variations of rosemary oil
from Southern Spain Journal of
Essentials Oil Research 15 10ndash14
Santoyo S Cavero S Jaime L Ibanez E
Senorans FJ Reglero G (2005)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil obtained via
supercritical fluid extraction Journal of
Food Protection 68(4) 790ndash795
Sienkiewicz M Kowalczyk E Wasiela M
(2012) Recent patents regarding
essential oils and the significance of
their constituents in human health and
treatment Recent Pat Anti Infect Drug
Discov 7 133ndash140
Sienkiewicz Monika Monika Lysakowska
Marta Pastuszka Wojciech Bienias
Edward Kowalczyk (2013) The
Potential of Use Basil and Rosemary
Essential Oils as Effective Antibacterial
Agents Molecules 18 9334ndash9351
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Sui Xiaoyu Tingting Liu Chunhui Ma Lei
Yang Yuangang Zu Lin Zhang Hua
Wang (2012) Microwave irradiation to
pretreat rosemary (Rosmarinus
officinalis L) for maintaining
antioxidant content during storage and
to extract essential oil simultaneously
Food Chemistry 131 1399ndash1405
Szumny Antoni Adam Figiel Antonio
Gutierrez-Ortiz Angel A Carbonell
Barrachina (2010) Composition of
rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus
officinalis) as affected by drying
method Journal of Food Engineering
97 253ndash260
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre
Chalard Gilles Figueredo (2013)
Characteristics of Essential oils of
Rosmarinus officinalis from eastern
Algeria Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med 2(12) 794ndash807
Varela F Navarrete P Cristobal R Fanlo M
Melero R Sotomayor J A (2009)
Variability in the chemical composition
of wild Rosmarinus officinalis L Acta
Horticulturae 826 167ndash174
Verma Ram S Laiqur Rahman Sunita Mishra
Rajesh K V Amit Chauhan Anand
Singh (2011) Changes in essential oil
content and composition of leaf and leaf
powder of Rosmarinus officinalis cv
CIM-Hariyali during storage Maejo Int
J Sci Technol 5(02) 181ndash190
Viuda-Martos M El Gendy A E-N G S
Sendra E Fernandez-Lopez J Abd El
Razik K A Omer E A Jose A Perez-
Alvarez (2010) Chemical composition
and antioxidant and anti-Listeria
activities of essential oils obtained from
some Egyptian plants Journal
Agriculture Food Chemistry 58(16)
9063ndash9070
Wang Wei Nan Li Meng Luo Yuangang Zu
Thomas Efferth (2012) Antibacterial
Activity and Anticancer Activity of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Compared to That of Its Main
Components Molecules 17 2704ndash
2713
Yang Jiang Nan Wu Yu-Jie Fu Wei Wang
Meng Luo Chun-Jian Zhao Yuan-
Gang Zu Xiao-Lei Liu (2011)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of the essential oil
of Rosemary Environmental
Toxicology and Pharmacology 32 63ndash
68
Zaouali Y Messaoud C BenSalah A Boussaid
M (2005) Oil composition variability
among populations in relationship with
their ecological areas in Tunisian
Rosmarinus officinalis L Flavour
Fragrance J 20 512ndash520
Source of Support Algerian MESRS and
Chemical Laboratory of carbohydrates
Heterocyclic of Clermont Ferrant France
Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS
SALEM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU INDIA
Rekha R
1 Senthil Kumar S
2
1 2PG and Research Department of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and Science for Women
(Autonomous) Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal(DT) Tamil Nadu India
Corresponding Author E- Mail rekha87rajagmailcom
Received 26042014 Revised 24052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
An ethno-botanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills Southern
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu India during November 2012ndashMarch 2014 This study
mainly focused on the plants used by the Malayali tribes for various purposes (Construction
materials house hold implements brushing fuel wood agriculture tools religious decorative to
ward off evil spirits) through standardized questionnaires interviews and discussions with very old
and knowledgeable tribals A total of 84 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 42 families were
recorded in the present study These extremely important plants should be taken into account and
steps have to be taken to increase their production for future benefit
KEY WORDS Yercaud hills Malayali tribes Ethno-botany
Research Article
Cite this article
Rekha R Senthil Kumar S (2014) ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS SALEM DISTRICT
TAMIL NADU INDIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 243ndash251
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
Plants are used against a number of
diseases by many indigenous communities in
traditional medicine plants are also used in
building materials fodder weapons and other
commodities of economical importance The
tribal people are economically backward ethnic
groups and constitute separate socio-cultural
groups Many local and indigenous
communities in Asian countries meet their
basic needs from the forest products they
manufacture and sell based on their traditional
knowledge (John Kennedy 2006) Yercaud
hills have been gifted with enormous number
of plant species Tribal people living in
Yercaud hills depend on these plants for their
survival These plants play a vital role in their
life as these people depend on the forest wealth
to meet their needs Their economic condition
is determined by these plants Yercaud hill
range is situated to the north-east part of
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu
India with rich vegetation and it covers an area
of 150 square miles (390 Sq km) It lies
between 11deg45rsquo56rdquo N latitude and 78deg17rsquo55rdquo E
longitude The temperature ranges from 13degC
to 29degC on the peaks and 25degC to 40degC at the
foot hills The average annual rainfall is around
1500ndash1750 mm The indigenous people
inhabiting Yercaud hill are called Malayali the
oldest group of the branch of the ethnic group
in South India Malayali simply means a hill
person an appellation distinguishing them from
the people of plains In physical appearance
they scarcely differ from the people of plains
They speak Tamil dialect of their own They
are supposed to be descendants of
Kanchipuram vellalar They appear to have
migrated from Kanchipuram (a town near
Chennai Tamil Nadu India) between seventh
and eleventh centuries The tribals are mostly
working as casual laborers in coffee estates
They are cultivating food grains fruits and
vegetable (Alagesaboopathi et al 1996)
Malayali tribals use more number of plants for
various purposes like for making construction
materials house hold implements brushing
plants fuel wood agriculture tools religious
decorative to ward off evil spirits etc This
study enumerates such useful plants which are
used by Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills
Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu India
Data Collection
Frequent field surveys were carried out in
Yercaud hills in different seasons during
November 2012ndashMarch 2014 Information on the plants was collected through personal
interview with village headman farmers and
other knowledgeable tribals The interviews
were conducted in the local language (Tamil)
the information includes local names plant
parts used and method of utilization was
gathered from them with regard to each plant
The collected information was recorded on
field note books and plants were identified
using the Flora of the Presidency of Madras
(Gamble 1935) and Flora of Tamil Nadu-
Carnatic (Matthew 1983) Plant specimens
were deposited for future references in the
Botany department Vivekanandha College of
Arts and Sciences for women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal
(DT) Tamil Nadu India
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The present study focused mainly on the
role of non timber forest products in the
livelihood of Malayali tribes of Yercaud hills
Salem district Tamil Nadu India During the
study period 84 plant species belonging to 70
genera and 42 families were identified to be
utilized by Malayali tribes (Table 1) The
reported plants were arranged to their
Botanical Name Vernacular name as recorded
during field work habit and uses Plants
utilized by Malayali tribes can be classified
under various categories like fuel wood plants
house construction and house hold implements
agriculture tools religious importance plants
plants used to ward off evil afflictions hair
care and toothbrush The plants listed mainly
belong to Rubiaceae (6 species) followed by
Fabaceae and Moraceae (5 species)
Mimosaceae Rutaceae and Poaceae (4
species) Combretaceae Anacardiaceae
Euphorbiaceae Apocynaceae (3 species)
Asparagaceae Alangiaceae Asclepidaceae
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Meliaceae Caesalpiniaceae Verbenaceae
Arecaceae Ebenaceae Lamiaceae Tiliaceae
Myrtaceae and Dipterocarpaceae (2 species)
Araceae Acanthaceae Annonaceae
Papaveraceae Bambusaceae Borangiaceae
Cyperaceae Droseraceae Proteaceae
Convolvulaceae Gyrocarpeaceae Ulmaceae
Malvaceae Lythraceae Nyctaginaceae
Moringaceae Salicaceae Araliaceae
Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species) From
the study it was observed that 51 taxa are trees
(60) 23 taxa are herbs (20) and 10 taxa are
shrub (12)
Fire wood plants
One of the most important non timber
forest products for daily life is fuel wood the
only means of energy source of Malayali
tribes The fuel wood species are collected
from the forest near to the hamlets The species
preferred for fire wood to their comfortable
availability and inflammability According to
Malayali tribes which are not considered as a
source of good timber are treated as fire wood
The fire wood utilized by Malayali tribes
belong to 15 species 15 genera and 10
families they are Albizzia lebbeck Benth
Bauhinia tomentosa L Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb Chomelia astiactica OKze
Diospyros montana Roxb Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq Holopetela integrifolia
(Roxb) Planch Mallotus philippensis M Arg
Moringa oleifera Lamk Plectronia didyma
Kurz Salix tetrasperma Roxb Shorea robusta
Roth Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels Terminalia
bellerica Roxb and Zanthoxylum budrunga
Wall
House construction and house hold
implements
Malayali tribes have good Knowledge to
use natural resources specifically plants for
their day-to-day life Malayali tribes use
Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq leaves to make
meal plate Phoenix sylverstris Roxb leaves to
make broom stick Cyperus rotundus L
Ophiuros exalatus OKtz Oryza sativa L
Sorghum vulgare L are used for roofing and
thatching Mature stem of Cassia fistula Linn
Chloroxylon swietenia DC Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl and Terminalia
chebula Retz were used to make pounder
Mature stem of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam is
used to make churn-staff woody stem of
Mangifera indica L is used to make wood
grinder leaves of Cassia fistula Linn is used
for ripening of fruits Gmelina arborea Roxb
mature stem is used as a stick for musical
instrument the fibers from the leaf fibers of
Agave americana L and Agave angustifolia
Haw are used for making coir the culm of
Bambusa arundinacea Willd is used for
making various types of baskets leaves of
Corypha umbracalifer L is used for making
baskets and decoration in ceremonies
Wood forms an important construction
material for houses cattle sheds and temporary
settlements in the area Windows doors and
cots were chiefly made up of Albizia
odoratissima Benth Cleistanthus Collins
Benth Cordia wallichii G Don Dalberiga
lanceolaria L Diospyros edenum JKoeing
Gardenia resinifera Roth Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br Melia composite Willd
Shorea roxburghii Roxb Tectona grandis
Linn Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall and
Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk
Agricultural implements
For making agricultural implements four
species were used such as Chloroxylon
swietenia DC and Bumbusa arundinacea Willd
were used for making handle of axe and woody
stem of Anogeissus latifolia Wall and Tectona
grandis Linn is made in the shape of a harrow
by Malayali tribes
Plants used for Religious purposes
Ceremonial plant use is of principal
importance in daily Malayali tribe life and
many species have a specific ceremonial
significance generally associated with
blessings age-rites and witchcraft Some plants
are used as offerings to god among these tribes
Asclepias curassavica L Cassia montana
Heyne Clerodendrum serratum L and
Plumeria rubra L flowers are used in religious
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
practice to worship God Holarrhena
pubescens (Buch-Ham) WallexGDon
Wrightia tinctoria RBr mature stem are used
in all traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions
Malayali tribes believe that some of the
plants bring good fortune and keep off evil
spirits The exudates of Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb and Semecarpus
anacardium L are used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect them from evils
afflictions brush body with leaves and root of
Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake
bite brush body with leaves of Schefflera
racemosa Harms protect from evils afflictions
roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Aitf is
stitched together and then worn around the hip
to protect from evils afflictions rhizome of the
Acorus calamus Linn is made into pieces and
stitched together and worn around the neck of a
new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions
Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate
sexual desire ie Abrus pulchellus Wall
Alangium hexapetalum Lam Canthium
parviflorum Lam Drosera indica L Evolvulus
alsinoides Linn Ficus bengalensis Linn
Grewia tenax (forssk) fiori Mimosa pudica
Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn Ocimum canum
Sims and Randia dumetorum Lam
Plants used as Toothbrush
Malayali tribals generally use the young
twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn
Azadirachta indica AJuss Ficus glomerata
Roxb Ficus religosa Linn Jatropha curcas L
and Psidium guajava Linn areial root of Ficus
benghalensis Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn
rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula Retz
fruit powder are used as tooth powder
Plants used in Hair Nourishment
Heredity older age lack of nutrition
infections (such as worms lice scabies
dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic
products (soaps shampoos and hair oils) may
cause hair loss dandruff discoloration of hairs
Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant
resources for hair disorders For example
Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a
shampoo seeds of Argemone mexicana root of
Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening
the hairs flowers of Annona squamosa amp fruit
of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff
and kill lice whole plant parts of Andrographis
echioides flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia
calendulacea prevented hair loss
Table 1 List of plants used by Malayali Tribal people for NTFP in Yercaud hills
S
No
Botanical Name Vernacular Name
(Tamil)
Family Parts used Purposes
1 Abrus pulchellus
Wall
Vellaikuntumani Fabaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
2 Acorus calamus
Linn
Vasambu Araceae Rhizome Rhizome made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the neck of new born
baby to get rid from evils
afflictions
3 Agave americana L Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
4 Agave angustifolia
Haw
Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
5 Alangium
hexapetalum Lam
Earualangi Alangiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
6 Alangium salvifolium
Linn
Alangal Alangiaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
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Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
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Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
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1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
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Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
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endophyte symbiosis with
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Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
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from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
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289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
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Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Figure 3 Antibacterial activity of Boussaada Agmeroual and Nrsquogaous Chemotypes
Figure 4 Antibacterial activity of Boutaleb Chemotype
Gentamicine
frac12
frac14
18
frac12
frac14
18
frac12
frac14
18
Dilution
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26In
hib
itio
n d
iam
ete
r (m
m)
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
Ca-C-ap-E Boussacircada Ca-ap-C-E AgmeroualCa-ap-E-C Nrsquogaous
G frac12 frac14 18
Dilution
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
Inh
ibit
ion
dia
met
er (
mm
)
Escherichia coli
Enterobacter cloacae
MRSA
Pseudomonas syringae
Salmonella sp
Serratia l iquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Shigella sp
ap-Ca-E-C Boutaleb
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
DISCUSSION
Our returns of the essential oil are low
compared to those of the literature This yield is
between 06 and 08 (Atti-Santos et al 2005
Bekkara et al 2007) Ayadi et al (2011) found
a yield (071ndash2) which indicates that the yield
of rosemary varies according to geographical
location
The chemical components of the essential
oil of R officinalis showed that α-pinene
camphene eucalyptol and camphor are the
major products (Jordan et al 2013 Mugnaini
et al 2012 Sienkiewicz et al 2013
Matsuzaki et al 2013 Derwich et al 2011
Fadli et al 2011 Jalali-Heravi et al 2011
Issabeagloo et al 2012 Hussain et al 2011
Mudasir et al 2012 Verma et al 2011 Yang
et al 2011 Sui et al 2012 Aderiana et al
2013 Lograda et al 2013)
Based on the majority of Rosemary
components the authors identified three
chemotypes (Issabeagloo et al 2012 Mudasir
et al 2012 Sui et al 2012 Mugnaini et al
2012 Jordan et al 2013 Sienkiewicz et al
2013 Matsuzaki et al 2013 Aderiana et al
2013) the same chemotypes are found in our
samples with the presence of five variants The
eastern Algeria samples showed an average
antibacterial activity on all tested bacteria the
same observations were mentioned in the
literature (Lopez et al 2005 Probuseenivasan
et al 2006 Fabio et al 2007 Jiang et al
2011 Sienkiewicz et al 2013) This may be
partly due to the fact that the essential oils
contained more oxygenated compounds and
these classes of compounds have been proved
to possess strong antibacterial activities (Deba
et al 2008)
Generally the essential oils of R officinalis
have shown broad spectra of activity against
the tested microorganisms the same findings
were made by Gachkar et al (2007) on some
species of the genus The antimicrobial
property of the essential oil of R officinalis is
attributed to the presence of α-pinene 18-
cineole camphor verbinone and borneol
(Santoyo et al 2005) the quantities of these
compounds were very high in our oils
CONCLUSION
Six variants of Rosemary chemotypes
localized in eastern Algeria were used in the
determination of the antimicrobial activity
against the gram positive and negative bacteria
by the disc diffusion method The essential oil
obtained by hydrodistillation was more active
against microorganisms than the antibiotic
gentamicine The essential oils showed
inhibition zones against all micro-organisms
tested The Results indicate that essential oils
of Rosmarinus officinalis present significant
antimicrobial activity This antimicrobial
activity can be linked to its higher content of
oxygenated compounds This study provides
additional data of antibacterial activity of the
essential oils of R officinalis growing in
Algeria
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The work was supported by Algerian
MESRS and Chemical Laboratory of
carbohydrates Heterocyclic of Clermont
Ferrant France
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Adriana M Ojeda-Sana C M van Baren M A
Elechosa M A Juarez S M (2013) New
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195
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Altinier G Sosa S Aquino RP Mencherini T
Loggia RD Tubaro A (2007)
Characterization of topical
antiinflammatory compounds in
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Angioni A Barra A Cereti E Barile D
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Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
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Atti-Santos Ana Cristina Marcelo Rossato
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1039
Ayadi S Jerribi C Abderrabba M (2011)
Extraction et eacutetude des huiles
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Bekkara F Atik Bousmaha L Taleb Bendiab S
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Composition chimique de lrsquohuile
essentielle de Rosmarinus officinalis L
poussant agrave lrsquoeacutetat spontaneacute et cultiveacute de
la reacutegion de Tlemcen Biologie amp Santeacute
7(1) 6ndash11
Bendeddouche M S Benhassaini H Hazem Z
Romane A (2011) Essential oil analysis
and antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
tournefortii from Algeria Nat Prod
Commun 6 1511ndash1514
Bozin B Mimica-Dukic N Samojlik I Jovin E
(2007) Antimicrobial and antioxidant
properties of rosemary and sage
(Rosmarinus officinalis L and Salvia
officinalis L Lamiaceae) essential oils
Journal of Agricultural and Food
Chemistry 55 7879ndash7885
Calin-Sanchez Angel Antoni Szumny Adam
Figiel Klaudiusz Jałoszynski Maciej
Adamski Angel A Carbonell-
Barrachin (2011) Effects of vacuum
level and microwave power on
rosemary volatile composition during
vacuumndashmicrowave drying Journal of
Food Engineering 103 219ndash227
Cheung S Tai J (2001) Anti-proliferative and
antioxidant properties of rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis Oncol Rep 17
1525ndash1531
Deba F Xuan TD Yasudaa M Tawata S
(2008) Chemical composition and
antioxidant antibacterial and antifungal
activities of the essential oils from
Bidens pilosa Linn var Radiata Food
Control 19 346ndash352
Derwich E Benziane Z Chabir R (2011)
Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of
Morocco Chemical Composition of
essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis
and Juniperus Phoenicea International
Journal of Applied Biology and
Pharmaceutical Technology 2(1) 145ndash
153
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Diaz-Maroto MC Perez-Coello MS Sanchez-
Palomo E Gonzalez-Vinas MA (2007)
Impact of drying and storage time on
sensory characteristics of rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis L) Journal of
Sensory Studies 22 34ndash48
Fabio A Cermelli C Fabio G Nicoletti P
Quaglio P (2007) Screening of the
antibacterial effects of a variety of
essential oils on microorganisms
responsible for respiratory infections
Phytother Res 21 374ndash377
Fadli Mariam Jacqueline Chevalier Asmaa
Saad Nour-Eddine Mezrioui Lahcen
Hassani Jean-Marie Pages (2011)
Essential oils from Moroccan plants as
potential chemosensitisers restoring
antibiotic activity in resistant Gram-
negative bacteria International Journal
of Antimicrobial Agents 38 325ndash330
Faixov ZR Faix S (2008) Biological effects of
Rosmary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
essensial oil (A Review) Folia
Veterinaria 5(3-4) 135ndash139
Gachkar L Yadegari D Rezaei MB
Taghizadeh M Astaneh SA Rasooli I
(2007) Chemical and biological
characteristics of Cuminum cyminum
and Rosmarinus officinalis essential
oils Food Chemistry 102 898ndash904
Hussain Abdullah I Farooq Anwar Poonam S
Nigam Satyajit D Sarker John E
Moore Juluri R Rao Anisha Mazumdar
(2011) Antibacterial activity of some
Lamiaceae essential oils using resazurin
as an indicator of cell growth LWT
Food Science and Technology 44
1199ndash1206
Issabeagloo Eilyad Parviz Kermanizadeh
Mohammad Taghizadieh Reza Forughi
(2012) Antimicrobial effects of
rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L)
essential oils against Staphylococcus
spp African Journal of Microbiology
Research 6(23) 5039ndash5042
Jalali-Heravi Mehdi Rudabeh Sadat Moazeni
Hassan Sereshti (2011) Analysis of
Iranian rosemary essential oil
Application of gas chromatographyndash
mass spectrometry combined with
chemometrics Journal of
Chromatography A 1218 2569ndash2576
Jiang Y Wu N Fu Y-J Wang W Luo M Zhao
CJ Zu YG Liu XL (2011) Chemical
composition and antimicrobial activity
of the essential oil of Rosemary
Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 32 63ndash
68
Jordan MJ Lax V Martinez C Aouissat M
Sotomayor JA 2011 Chemical
intraspecific variability and chemotypes
determination of Rosmarinus officinalis
L in the region of Murcia Acta
Horticulturae 925 109ndash114
Jordan MJ Vanesa Lax Maria C Rota Susana
Loran Joseacute A Sotomayor (2013)
Effect of bioclimatic area on the
essential oil composition and
antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L Food Control 30 463ndash
468
Kadri Adel Zied Zarai Ines BenChobba
Ahmed Beacutekir Neacuteji Gharsallah
Mohamed Damak Radhouane Gdoura
(2011) Chemical constituents and
antioxidant properties of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil cultivated
from the South-Western of Tunisia
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research
5(29) 6502ndash6508
Lopez P Sanchez C Battle R Nerin C (2005)
Soilid- and vapour-phase antimicrobial
activities of six essential oils
Susceptibility of selected foodborne
bacterial and fungal strains Agric Food
Chem 53 6939ndash6946
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Maistro EL Mota SF Lima EB Bernardes
BM Goulart FC (2010) Genotoxicity
and mutagenicity of Rosmarinus
officinalis (Labiatae) essential oil in
mammalian cells in vivo Genetics and
Molecular Research 9(4) 2113ndash2122
Martins MR Tinoco MT Almeida AS Cruz-
Morais J (2012) Chemical
Composition Antioxidant and
Antimicrobial properties of three
Essential oils from Portuguese Flora
Journal of Pharmacognosy 3(1) 39ndash44
Masuda T Inaba Y Takeda Y (2001)
Antioxidant mechanism of carnosic
acid structural identification of two
oxidation products J Agric Food
Chem 49 5560ndash5565
Matsuzaki Yusuke Toshiyuki Tsujisawa
Tatsuji Nishihara Mari Nakamura
Yasuaki Kakinoki (2013) Antifungal
activity of chemotype essential oils
from rosemary against Candida
albicans Open Journal of Stomatology
3 176ndash182
Mudasir A Tantry Syed Shabir Reehana Khan
Afsha Habib Seema Akbar (2012)
Determination of Essential Oil
Composition of Rosmarinus officinalis
Growing as Exotic species in Kashmir
Valley Chemistry of Natural
Compounds 47(6) 1012ndash1014
Mugnaini L Nardoni S Pinto L Pistelli L
Leonardi M Pisseri F Mancianti F
(2012) In vitro and in vivo antifungal
activity of some essential oils against
feline isolates of Microsporum canis
Journal de Mycologie Meacutedicale 22
179ndash184
Pino JA Estrarron M Fuentes V (1998)
Essential Oil of Rosemary (Rosmarinus
Officinalis L) from Cuba J Essent Oil
Res 10 111
Poeckel D Greiner C Verhoff M Rau O
Tausch L Heornig C Steinhilber D
Schubert-Zsilavecz M Werz O (2008)
Carnosic acid and carnosol potently
inhibit human 5-lipoxygenase and
suppress pro-inflammatory responses of
stimulated human polymorphonuclear
leukocytes Biochem Pharmacol 76
91ndash97
Prabuseenivasan S Jayakumar M Ignacimuthu
S (2006) In vitro antibacterial activity
of some plant essential oils BMC
Complement Altern Med 6 39
Reichling J Schnitzler P Suschke U Saller R
(2009) Essential oils of aromatic plants
with antibacterial antifungal antiviral
and cytotoxic properties-An overview
Forsch Komplementmed 16 79ndash90
Salido S Altarejos J Nogueras M Sanchez A
Luque P (2003) Chemical composition
and seasonal variations of rosemary oil
from Southern Spain Journal of
Essentials Oil Research 15 10ndash14
Santoyo S Cavero S Jaime L Ibanez E
Senorans FJ Reglero G (2005)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil obtained via
supercritical fluid extraction Journal of
Food Protection 68(4) 790ndash795
Sienkiewicz M Kowalczyk E Wasiela M
(2012) Recent patents regarding
essential oils and the significance of
their constituents in human health and
treatment Recent Pat Anti Infect Drug
Discov 7 133ndash140
Sienkiewicz Monika Monika Lysakowska
Marta Pastuszka Wojciech Bienias
Edward Kowalczyk (2013) The
Potential of Use Basil and Rosemary
Essential Oils as Effective Antibacterial
Agents Molecules 18 9334ndash9351
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Sui Xiaoyu Tingting Liu Chunhui Ma Lei
Yang Yuangang Zu Lin Zhang Hua
Wang (2012) Microwave irradiation to
pretreat rosemary (Rosmarinus
officinalis L) for maintaining
antioxidant content during storage and
to extract essential oil simultaneously
Food Chemistry 131 1399ndash1405
Szumny Antoni Adam Figiel Antonio
Gutierrez-Ortiz Angel A Carbonell
Barrachina (2010) Composition of
rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus
officinalis) as affected by drying
method Journal of Food Engineering
97 253ndash260
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre
Chalard Gilles Figueredo (2013)
Characteristics of Essential oils of
Rosmarinus officinalis from eastern
Algeria Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med 2(12) 794ndash807
Varela F Navarrete P Cristobal R Fanlo M
Melero R Sotomayor J A (2009)
Variability in the chemical composition
of wild Rosmarinus officinalis L Acta
Horticulturae 826 167ndash174
Verma Ram S Laiqur Rahman Sunita Mishra
Rajesh K V Amit Chauhan Anand
Singh (2011) Changes in essential oil
content and composition of leaf and leaf
powder of Rosmarinus officinalis cv
CIM-Hariyali during storage Maejo Int
J Sci Technol 5(02) 181ndash190
Viuda-Martos M El Gendy A E-N G S
Sendra E Fernandez-Lopez J Abd El
Razik K A Omer E A Jose A Perez-
Alvarez (2010) Chemical composition
and antioxidant and anti-Listeria
activities of essential oils obtained from
some Egyptian plants Journal
Agriculture Food Chemistry 58(16)
9063ndash9070
Wang Wei Nan Li Meng Luo Yuangang Zu
Thomas Efferth (2012) Antibacterial
Activity and Anticancer Activity of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Compared to That of Its Main
Components Molecules 17 2704ndash
2713
Yang Jiang Nan Wu Yu-Jie Fu Wei Wang
Meng Luo Chun-Jian Zhao Yuan-
Gang Zu Xiao-Lei Liu (2011)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of the essential oil
of Rosemary Environmental
Toxicology and Pharmacology 32 63ndash
68
Zaouali Y Messaoud C BenSalah A Boussaid
M (2005) Oil composition variability
among populations in relationship with
their ecological areas in Tunisian
Rosmarinus officinalis L Flavour
Fragrance J 20 512ndash520
Source of Support Algerian MESRS and
Chemical Laboratory of carbohydrates
Heterocyclic of Clermont Ferrant France
Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS
SALEM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU INDIA
Rekha R
1 Senthil Kumar S
2
1 2PG and Research Department of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and Science for Women
(Autonomous) Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal(DT) Tamil Nadu India
Corresponding Author E- Mail rekha87rajagmailcom
Received 26042014 Revised 24052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
An ethno-botanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills Southern
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu India during November 2012ndashMarch 2014 This study
mainly focused on the plants used by the Malayali tribes for various purposes (Construction
materials house hold implements brushing fuel wood agriculture tools religious decorative to
ward off evil spirits) through standardized questionnaires interviews and discussions with very old
and knowledgeable tribals A total of 84 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 42 families were
recorded in the present study These extremely important plants should be taken into account and
steps have to be taken to increase their production for future benefit
KEY WORDS Yercaud hills Malayali tribes Ethno-botany
Research Article
Cite this article
Rekha R Senthil Kumar S (2014) ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS SALEM DISTRICT
TAMIL NADU INDIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 243ndash251
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
Plants are used against a number of
diseases by many indigenous communities in
traditional medicine plants are also used in
building materials fodder weapons and other
commodities of economical importance The
tribal people are economically backward ethnic
groups and constitute separate socio-cultural
groups Many local and indigenous
communities in Asian countries meet their
basic needs from the forest products they
manufacture and sell based on their traditional
knowledge (John Kennedy 2006) Yercaud
hills have been gifted with enormous number
of plant species Tribal people living in
Yercaud hills depend on these plants for their
survival These plants play a vital role in their
life as these people depend on the forest wealth
to meet their needs Their economic condition
is determined by these plants Yercaud hill
range is situated to the north-east part of
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu
India with rich vegetation and it covers an area
of 150 square miles (390 Sq km) It lies
between 11deg45rsquo56rdquo N latitude and 78deg17rsquo55rdquo E
longitude The temperature ranges from 13degC
to 29degC on the peaks and 25degC to 40degC at the
foot hills The average annual rainfall is around
1500ndash1750 mm The indigenous people
inhabiting Yercaud hill are called Malayali the
oldest group of the branch of the ethnic group
in South India Malayali simply means a hill
person an appellation distinguishing them from
the people of plains In physical appearance
they scarcely differ from the people of plains
They speak Tamil dialect of their own They
are supposed to be descendants of
Kanchipuram vellalar They appear to have
migrated from Kanchipuram (a town near
Chennai Tamil Nadu India) between seventh
and eleventh centuries The tribals are mostly
working as casual laborers in coffee estates
They are cultivating food grains fruits and
vegetable (Alagesaboopathi et al 1996)
Malayali tribals use more number of plants for
various purposes like for making construction
materials house hold implements brushing
plants fuel wood agriculture tools religious
decorative to ward off evil spirits etc This
study enumerates such useful plants which are
used by Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills
Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu India
Data Collection
Frequent field surveys were carried out in
Yercaud hills in different seasons during
November 2012ndashMarch 2014 Information on the plants was collected through personal
interview with village headman farmers and
other knowledgeable tribals The interviews
were conducted in the local language (Tamil)
the information includes local names plant
parts used and method of utilization was
gathered from them with regard to each plant
The collected information was recorded on
field note books and plants were identified
using the Flora of the Presidency of Madras
(Gamble 1935) and Flora of Tamil Nadu-
Carnatic (Matthew 1983) Plant specimens
were deposited for future references in the
Botany department Vivekanandha College of
Arts and Sciences for women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal
(DT) Tamil Nadu India
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The present study focused mainly on the
role of non timber forest products in the
livelihood of Malayali tribes of Yercaud hills
Salem district Tamil Nadu India During the
study period 84 plant species belonging to 70
genera and 42 families were identified to be
utilized by Malayali tribes (Table 1) The
reported plants were arranged to their
Botanical Name Vernacular name as recorded
during field work habit and uses Plants
utilized by Malayali tribes can be classified
under various categories like fuel wood plants
house construction and house hold implements
agriculture tools religious importance plants
plants used to ward off evil afflictions hair
care and toothbrush The plants listed mainly
belong to Rubiaceae (6 species) followed by
Fabaceae and Moraceae (5 species)
Mimosaceae Rutaceae and Poaceae (4
species) Combretaceae Anacardiaceae
Euphorbiaceae Apocynaceae (3 species)
Asparagaceae Alangiaceae Asclepidaceae
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Meliaceae Caesalpiniaceae Verbenaceae
Arecaceae Ebenaceae Lamiaceae Tiliaceae
Myrtaceae and Dipterocarpaceae (2 species)
Araceae Acanthaceae Annonaceae
Papaveraceae Bambusaceae Borangiaceae
Cyperaceae Droseraceae Proteaceae
Convolvulaceae Gyrocarpeaceae Ulmaceae
Malvaceae Lythraceae Nyctaginaceae
Moringaceae Salicaceae Araliaceae
Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species) From
the study it was observed that 51 taxa are trees
(60) 23 taxa are herbs (20) and 10 taxa are
shrub (12)
Fire wood plants
One of the most important non timber
forest products for daily life is fuel wood the
only means of energy source of Malayali
tribes The fuel wood species are collected
from the forest near to the hamlets The species
preferred for fire wood to their comfortable
availability and inflammability According to
Malayali tribes which are not considered as a
source of good timber are treated as fire wood
The fire wood utilized by Malayali tribes
belong to 15 species 15 genera and 10
families they are Albizzia lebbeck Benth
Bauhinia tomentosa L Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb Chomelia astiactica OKze
Diospyros montana Roxb Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq Holopetela integrifolia
(Roxb) Planch Mallotus philippensis M Arg
Moringa oleifera Lamk Plectronia didyma
Kurz Salix tetrasperma Roxb Shorea robusta
Roth Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels Terminalia
bellerica Roxb and Zanthoxylum budrunga
Wall
House construction and house hold
implements
Malayali tribes have good Knowledge to
use natural resources specifically plants for
their day-to-day life Malayali tribes use
Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq leaves to make
meal plate Phoenix sylverstris Roxb leaves to
make broom stick Cyperus rotundus L
Ophiuros exalatus OKtz Oryza sativa L
Sorghum vulgare L are used for roofing and
thatching Mature stem of Cassia fistula Linn
Chloroxylon swietenia DC Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl and Terminalia
chebula Retz were used to make pounder
Mature stem of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam is
used to make churn-staff woody stem of
Mangifera indica L is used to make wood
grinder leaves of Cassia fistula Linn is used
for ripening of fruits Gmelina arborea Roxb
mature stem is used as a stick for musical
instrument the fibers from the leaf fibers of
Agave americana L and Agave angustifolia
Haw are used for making coir the culm of
Bambusa arundinacea Willd is used for
making various types of baskets leaves of
Corypha umbracalifer L is used for making
baskets and decoration in ceremonies
Wood forms an important construction
material for houses cattle sheds and temporary
settlements in the area Windows doors and
cots were chiefly made up of Albizia
odoratissima Benth Cleistanthus Collins
Benth Cordia wallichii G Don Dalberiga
lanceolaria L Diospyros edenum JKoeing
Gardenia resinifera Roth Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br Melia composite Willd
Shorea roxburghii Roxb Tectona grandis
Linn Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall and
Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk
Agricultural implements
For making agricultural implements four
species were used such as Chloroxylon
swietenia DC and Bumbusa arundinacea Willd
were used for making handle of axe and woody
stem of Anogeissus latifolia Wall and Tectona
grandis Linn is made in the shape of a harrow
by Malayali tribes
Plants used for Religious purposes
Ceremonial plant use is of principal
importance in daily Malayali tribe life and
many species have a specific ceremonial
significance generally associated with
blessings age-rites and witchcraft Some plants
are used as offerings to god among these tribes
Asclepias curassavica L Cassia montana
Heyne Clerodendrum serratum L and
Plumeria rubra L flowers are used in religious
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
practice to worship God Holarrhena
pubescens (Buch-Ham) WallexGDon
Wrightia tinctoria RBr mature stem are used
in all traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions
Malayali tribes believe that some of the
plants bring good fortune and keep off evil
spirits The exudates of Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb and Semecarpus
anacardium L are used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect them from evils
afflictions brush body with leaves and root of
Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake
bite brush body with leaves of Schefflera
racemosa Harms protect from evils afflictions
roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Aitf is
stitched together and then worn around the hip
to protect from evils afflictions rhizome of the
Acorus calamus Linn is made into pieces and
stitched together and worn around the neck of a
new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions
Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate
sexual desire ie Abrus pulchellus Wall
Alangium hexapetalum Lam Canthium
parviflorum Lam Drosera indica L Evolvulus
alsinoides Linn Ficus bengalensis Linn
Grewia tenax (forssk) fiori Mimosa pudica
Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn Ocimum canum
Sims and Randia dumetorum Lam
Plants used as Toothbrush
Malayali tribals generally use the young
twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn
Azadirachta indica AJuss Ficus glomerata
Roxb Ficus religosa Linn Jatropha curcas L
and Psidium guajava Linn areial root of Ficus
benghalensis Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn
rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula Retz
fruit powder are used as tooth powder
Plants used in Hair Nourishment
Heredity older age lack of nutrition
infections (such as worms lice scabies
dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic
products (soaps shampoos and hair oils) may
cause hair loss dandruff discoloration of hairs
Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant
resources for hair disorders For example
Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a
shampoo seeds of Argemone mexicana root of
Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening
the hairs flowers of Annona squamosa amp fruit
of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff
and kill lice whole plant parts of Andrographis
echioides flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia
calendulacea prevented hair loss
Table 1 List of plants used by Malayali Tribal people for NTFP in Yercaud hills
S
No
Botanical Name Vernacular Name
(Tamil)
Family Parts used Purposes
1 Abrus pulchellus
Wall
Vellaikuntumani Fabaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
2 Acorus calamus
Linn
Vasambu Araceae Rhizome Rhizome made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the neck of new born
baby to get rid from evils
afflictions
3 Agave americana L Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
4 Agave angustifolia
Haw
Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
5 Alangium
hexapetalum Lam
Earualangi Alangiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
6 Alangium salvifolium
Linn
Alangal Alangiaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
Arnold AE (2007) Understanding the diversity
of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
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Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
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Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
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Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
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(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
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Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
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Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
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Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
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Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
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Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
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Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
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Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
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Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
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Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
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Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
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459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
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endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
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Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
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Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
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WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
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Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
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and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
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articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
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Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
DISCUSSION
Our returns of the essential oil are low
compared to those of the literature This yield is
between 06 and 08 (Atti-Santos et al 2005
Bekkara et al 2007) Ayadi et al (2011) found
a yield (071ndash2) which indicates that the yield
of rosemary varies according to geographical
location
The chemical components of the essential
oil of R officinalis showed that α-pinene
camphene eucalyptol and camphor are the
major products (Jordan et al 2013 Mugnaini
et al 2012 Sienkiewicz et al 2013
Matsuzaki et al 2013 Derwich et al 2011
Fadli et al 2011 Jalali-Heravi et al 2011
Issabeagloo et al 2012 Hussain et al 2011
Mudasir et al 2012 Verma et al 2011 Yang
et al 2011 Sui et al 2012 Aderiana et al
2013 Lograda et al 2013)
Based on the majority of Rosemary
components the authors identified three
chemotypes (Issabeagloo et al 2012 Mudasir
et al 2012 Sui et al 2012 Mugnaini et al
2012 Jordan et al 2013 Sienkiewicz et al
2013 Matsuzaki et al 2013 Aderiana et al
2013) the same chemotypes are found in our
samples with the presence of five variants The
eastern Algeria samples showed an average
antibacterial activity on all tested bacteria the
same observations were mentioned in the
literature (Lopez et al 2005 Probuseenivasan
et al 2006 Fabio et al 2007 Jiang et al
2011 Sienkiewicz et al 2013) This may be
partly due to the fact that the essential oils
contained more oxygenated compounds and
these classes of compounds have been proved
to possess strong antibacterial activities (Deba
et al 2008)
Generally the essential oils of R officinalis
have shown broad spectra of activity against
the tested microorganisms the same findings
were made by Gachkar et al (2007) on some
species of the genus The antimicrobial
property of the essential oil of R officinalis is
attributed to the presence of α-pinene 18-
cineole camphor verbinone and borneol
(Santoyo et al 2005) the quantities of these
compounds were very high in our oils
CONCLUSION
Six variants of Rosemary chemotypes
localized in eastern Algeria were used in the
determination of the antimicrobial activity
against the gram positive and negative bacteria
by the disc diffusion method The essential oil
obtained by hydrodistillation was more active
against microorganisms than the antibiotic
gentamicine The essential oils showed
inhibition zones against all micro-organisms
tested The Results indicate that essential oils
of Rosmarinus officinalis present significant
antimicrobial activity This antimicrobial
activity can be linked to its higher content of
oxygenated compounds This study provides
additional data of antibacterial activity of the
essential oils of R officinalis growing in
Algeria
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The work was supported by Algerian
MESRS and Chemical Laboratory of
carbohydrates Heterocyclic of Clermont
Ferrant France
REFERENCES
Abutbul S Golan-Goldhirsh A Barazani O
Zilberg D (2004) Use of Rosmarinus
officinalis as a treatment against
Streptococcus iniae in tilapia
(Oreochromis sp) Aquaculture 238
97ndash105
Adriana M Ojeda-Sana C M van Baren M A
Elechosa M A Juarez S M (2013) New
insights into antibacterial and
antioxidant activities of rosemary
essential oils and their main
components Food Control 31 189ndash
195
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Altinier G Sosa S Aquino RP Mencherini T
Loggia RD Tubaro A (2007)
Characterization of topical
antiinflammatory compounds in
Rosmarinus officinalis L J Agric
Food Chem 55 1718ndash1723
Angioni A Barra A Cereti E Barile D
Coisson JD Arlorio M Dessi S
Coroneo V Cabras P (2004) Chemical
composition plant genetic differences
antimicrobial and antifungal activity
investigation of the essential of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry 52
3530ndash3535
Apostolides Nelly Arnold Marc El Beyrouthy
Wissal Dhifi Samir Najm Fabrice
Cazier Wafaa Najem Madonna Labaki
Antoine AbouKaiumls (2013) Chemical
Composition of Aerial Parts of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Growing Wild in Lebanon Journal of
Essential Oil Bearing Plants 16(2)
274ndash282
Atti-Santos Ana Cristina Marcelo Rossato
Gabriel Fernandes Pauletti Luciana
Duarte Rota Juarez Ciro Rech Marcia
Regina Pansera Fabiana Agostini
Luciana Atti Serafini and Patrick
Moyna (2005) Physico-chemical
Evaluation of Rosmarinus officinalis L
Essential Oils Brazilian Archives of
Biology and Technology 48(6) 1035ndash
1039
Ayadi S Jerribi C Abderrabba M (2011)
Extraction et eacutetude des huiles
essentielles de Rosmarinus Officinalis
cueillie dans trois reacutegions diffeacuterentes de
la Tunisie Journal de la Socieacuteteacute
Algeacuterienne de Chimie 21(1) 25ndash33
Bekkara F Atik Bousmaha L Taleb Bendiab S
A Boti J B Casanova J (2007)
Composition chimique de lrsquohuile
essentielle de Rosmarinus officinalis L
poussant agrave lrsquoeacutetat spontaneacute et cultiveacute de
la reacutegion de Tlemcen Biologie amp Santeacute
7(1) 6ndash11
Bendeddouche M S Benhassaini H Hazem Z
Romane A (2011) Essential oil analysis
and antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
tournefortii from Algeria Nat Prod
Commun 6 1511ndash1514
Bozin B Mimica-Dukic N Samojlik I Jovin E
(2007) Antimicrobial and antioxidant
properties of rosemary and sage
(Rosmarinus officinalis L and Salvia
officinalis L Lamiaceae) essential oils
Journal of Agricultural and Food
Chemistry 55 7879ndash7885
Calin-Sanchez Angel Antoni Szumny Adam
Figiel Klaudiusz Jałoszynski Maciej
Adamski Angel A Carbonell-
Barrachin (2011) Effects of vacuum
level and microwave power on
rosemary volatile composition during
vacuumndashmicrowave drying Journal of
Food Engineering 103 219ndash227
Cheung S Tai J (2001) Anti-proliferative and
antioxidant properties of rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis Oncol Rep 17
1525ndash1531
Deba F Xuan TD Yasudaa M Tawata S
(2008) Chemical composition and
antioxidant antibacterial and antifungal
activities of the essential oils from
Bidens pilosa Linn var Radiata Food
Control 19 346ndash352
Derwich E Benziane Z Chabir R (2011)
Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of
Morocco Chemical Composition of
essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis
and Juniperus Phoenicea International
Journal of Applied Biology and
Pharmaceutical Technology 2(1) 145ndash
153
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Diaz-Maroto MC Perez-Coello MS Sanchez-
Palomo E Gonzalez-Vinas MA (2007)
Impact of drying and storage time on
sensory characteristics of rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis L) Journal of
Sensory Studies 22 34ndash48
Fabio A Cermelli C Fabio G Nicoletti P
Quaglio P (2007) Screening of the
antibacterial effects of a variety of
essential oils on microorganisms
responsible for respiratory infections
Phytother Res 21 374ndash377
Fadli Mariam Jacqueline Chevalier Asmaa
Saad Nour-Eddine Mezrioui Lahcen
Hassani Jean-Marie Pages (2011)
Essential oils from Moroccan plants as
potential chemosensitisers restoring
antibiotic activity in resistant Gram-
negative bacteria International Journal
of Antimicrobial Agents 38 325ndash330
Faixov ZR Faix S (2008) Biological effects of
Rosmary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
essensial oil (A Review) Folia
Veterinaria 5(3-4) 135ndash139
Gachkar L Yadegari D Rezaei MB
Taghizadeh M Astaneh SA Rasooli I
(2007) Chemical and biological
characteristics of Cuminum cyminum
and Rosmarinus officinalis essential
oils Food Chemistry 102 898ndash904
Hussain Abdullah I Farooq Anwar Poonam S
Nigam Satyajit D Sarker John E
Moore Juluri R Rao Anisha Mazumdar
(2011) Antibacterial activity of some
Lamiaceae essential oils using resazurin
as an indicator of cell growth LWT
Food Science and Technology 44
1199ndash1206
Issabeagloo Eilyad Parviz Kermanizadeh
Mohammad Taghizadieh Reza Forughi
(2012) Antimicrobial effects of
rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L)
essential oils against Staphylococcus
spp African Journal of Microbiology
Research 6(23) 5039ndash5042
Jalali-Heravi Mehdi Rudabeh Sadat Moazeni
Hassan Sereshti (2011) Analysis of
Iranian rosemary essential oil
Application of gas chromatographyndash
mass spectrometry combined with
chemometrics Journal of
Chromatography A 1218 2569ndash2576
Jiang Y Wu N Fu Y-J Wang W Luo M Zhao
CJ Zu YG Liu XL (2011) Chemical
composition and antimicrobial activity
of the essential oil of Rosemary
Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 32 63ndash
68
Jordan MJ Lax V Martinez C Aouissat M
Sotomayor JA 2011 Chemical
intraspecific variability and chemotypes
determination of Rosmarinus officinalis
L in the region of Murcia Acta
Horticulturae 925 109ndash114
Jordan MJ Vanesa Lax Maria C Rota Susana
Loran Joseacute A Sotomayor (2013)
Effect of bioclimatic area on the
essential oil composition and
antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L Food Control 30 463ndash
468
Kadri Adel Zied Zarai Ines BenChobba
Ahmed Beacutekir Neacuteji Gharsallah
Mohamed Damak Radhouane Gdoura
(2011) Chemical constituents and
antioxidant properties of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil cultivated
from the South-Western of Tunisia
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research
5(29) 6502ndash6508
Lopez P Sanchez C Battle R Nerin C (2005)
Soilid- and vapour-phase antimicrobial
activities of six essential oils
Susceptibility of selected foodborne
bacterial and fungal strains Agric Food
Chem 53 6939ndash6946
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Maistro EL Mota SF Lima EB Bernardes
BM Goulart FC (2010) Genotoxicity
and mutagenicity of Rosmarinus
officinalis (Labiatae) essential oil in
mammalian cells in vivo Genetics and
Molecular Research 9(4) 2113ndash2122
Martins MR Tinoco MT Almeida AS Cruz-
Morais J (2012) Chemical
Composition Antioxidant and
Antimicrobial properties of three
Essential oils from Portuguese Flora
Journal of Pharmacognosy 3(1) 39ndash44
Masuda T Inaba Y Takeda Y (2001)
Antioxidant mechanism of carnosic
acid structural identification of two
oxidation products J Agric Food
Chem 49 5560ndash5565
Matsuzaki Yusuke Toshiyuki Tsujisawa
Tatsuji Nishihara Mari Nakamura
Yasuaki Kakinoki (2013) Antifungal
activity of chemotype essential oils
from rosemary against Candida
albicans Open Journal of Stomatology
3 176ndash182
Mudasir A Tantry Syed Shabir Reehana Khan
Afsha Habib Seema Akbar (2012)
Determination of Essential Oil
Composition of Rosmarinus officinalis
Growing as Exotic species in Kashmir
Valley Chemistry of Natural
Compounds 47(6) 1012ndash1014
Mugnaini L Nardoni S Pinto L Pistelli L
Leonardi M Pisseri F Mancianti F
(2012) In vitro and in vivo antifungal
activity of some essential oils against
feline isolates of Microsporum canis
Journal de Mycologie Meacutedicale 22
179ndash184
Pino JA Estrarron M Fuentes V (1998)
Essential Oil of Rosemary (Rosmarinus
Officinalis L) from Cuba J Essent Oil
Res 10 111
Poeckel D Greiner C Verhoff M Rau O
Tausch L Heornig C Steinhilber D
Schubert-Zsilavecz M Werz O (2008)
Carnosic acid and carnosol potently
inhibit human 5-lipoxygenase and
suppress pro-inflammatory responses of
stimulated human polymorphonuclear
leukocytes Biochem Pharmacol 76
91ndash97
Prabuseenivasan S Jayakumar M Ignacimuthu
S (2006) In vitro antibacterial activity
of some plant essential oils BMC
Complement Altern Med 6 39
Reichling J Schnitzler P Suschke U Saller R
(2009) Essential oils of aromatic plants
with antibacterial antifungal antiviral
and cytotoxic properties-An overview
Forsch Komplementmed 16 79ndash90
Salido S Altarejos J Nogueras M Sanchez A
Luque P (2003) Chemical composition
and seasonal variations of rosemary oil
from Southern Spain Journal of
Essentials Oil Research 15 10ndash14
Santoyo S Cavero S Jaime L Ibanez E
Senorans FJ Reglero G (2005)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil obtained via
supercritical fluid extraction Journal of
Food Protection 68(4) 790ndash795
Sienkiewicz M Kowalczyk E Wasiela M
(2012) Recent patents regarding
essential oils and the significance of
their constituents in human health and
treatment Recent Pat Anti Infect Drug
Discov 7 133ndash140
Sienkiewicz Monika Monika Lysakowska
Marta Pastuszka Wojciech Bienias
Edward Kowalczyk (2013) The
Potential of Use Basil and Rosemary
Essential Oils as Effective Antibacterial
Agents Molecules 18 9334ndash9351
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Sui Xiaoyu Tingting Liu Chunhui Ma Lei
Yang Yuangang Zu Lin Zhang Hua
Wang (2012) Microwave irradiation to
pretreat rosemary (Rosmarinus
officinalis L) for maintaining
antioxidant content during storage and
to extract essential oil simultaneously
Food Chemistry 131 1399ndash1405
Szumny Antoni Adam Figiel Antonio
Gutierrez-Ortiz Angel A Carbonell
Barrachina (2010) Composition of
rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus
officinalis) as affected by drying
method Journal of Food Engineering
97 253ndash260
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre
Chalard Gilles Figueredo (2013)
Characteristics of Essential oils of
Rosmarinus officinalis from eastern
Algeria Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med 2(12) 794ndash807
Varela F Navarrete P Cristobal R Fanlo M
Melero R Sotomayor J A (2009)
Variability in the chemical composition
of wild Rosmarinus officinalis L Acta
Horticulturae 826 167ndash174
Verma Ram S Laiqur Rahman Sunita Mishra
Rajesh K V Amit Chauhan Anand
Singh (2011) Changes in essential oil
content and composition of leaf and leaf
powder of Rosmarinus officinalis cv
CIM-Hariyali during storage Maejo Int
J Sci Technol 5(02) 181ndash190
Viuda-Martos M El Gendy A E-N G S
Sendra E Fernandez-Lopez J Abd El
Razik K A Omer E A Jose A Perez-
Alvarez (2010) Chemical composition
and antioxidant and anti-Listeria
activities of essential oils obtained from
some Egyptian plants Journal
Agriculture Food Chemistry 58(16)
9063ndash9070
Wang Wei Nan Li Meng Luo Yuangang Zu
Thomas Efferth (2012) Antibacterial
Activity and Anticancer Activity of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Compared to That of Its Main
Components Molecules 17 2704ndash
2713
Yang Jiang Nan Wu Yu-Jie Fu Wei Wang
Meng Luo Chun-Jian Zhao Yuan-
Gang Zu Xiao-Lei Liu (2011)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of the essential oil
of Rosemary Environmental
Toxicology and Pharmacology 32 63ndash
68
Zaouali Y Messaoud C BenSalah A Boussaid
M (2005) Oil composition variability
among populations in relationship with
their ecological areas in Tunisian
Rosmarinus officinalis L Flavour
Fragrance J 20 512ndash520
Source of Support Algerian MESRS and
Chemical Laboratory of carbohydrates
Heterocyclic of Clermont Ferrant France
Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS
SALEM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU INDIA
Rekha R
1 Senthil Kumar S
2
1 2PG and Research Department of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and Science for Women
(Autonomous) Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal(DT) Tamil Nadu India
Corresponding Author E- Mail rekha87rajagmailcom
Received 26042014 Revised 24052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
An ethno-botanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills Southern
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu India during November 2012ndashMarch 2014 This study
mainly focused on the plants used by the Malayali tribes for various purposes (Construction
materials house hold implements brushing fuel wood agriculture tools religious decorative to
ward off evil spirits) through standardized questionnaires interviews and discussions with very old
and knowledgeable tribals A total of 84 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 42 families were
recorded in the present study These extremely important plants should be taken into account and
steps have to be taken to increase their production for future benefit
KEY WORDS Yercaud hills Malayali tribes Ethno-botany
Research Article
Cite this article
Rekha R Senthil Kumar S (2014) ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS SALEM DISTRICT
TAMIL NADU INDIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 243ndash251
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
Plants are used against a number of
diseases by many indigenous communities in
traditional medicine plants are also used in
building materials fodder weapons and other
commodities of economical importance The
tribal people are economically backward ethnic
groups and constitute separate socio-cultural
groups Many local and indigenous
communities in Asian countries meet their
basic needs from the forest products they
manufacture and sell based on their traditional
knowledge (John Kennedy 2006) Yercaud
hills have been gifted with enormous number
of plant species Tribal people living in
Yercaud hills depend on these plants for their
survival These plants play a vital role in their
life as these people depend on the forest wealth
to meet their needs Their economic condition
is determined by these plants Yercaud hill
range is situated to the north-east part of
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu
India with rich vegetation and it covers an area
of 150 square miles (390 Sq km) It lies
between 11deg45rsquo56rdquo N latitude and 78deg17rsquo55rdquo E
longitude The temperature ranges from 13degC
to 29degC on the peaks and 25degC to 40degC at the
foot hills The average annual rainfall is around
1500ndash1750 mm The indigenous people
inhabiting Yercaud hill are called Malayali the
oldest group of the branch of the ethnic group
in South India Malayali simply means a hill
person an appellation distinguishing them from
the people of plains In physical appearance
they scarcely differ from the people of plains
They speak Tamil dialect of their own They
are supposed to be descendants of
Kanchipuram vellalar They appear to have
migrated from Kanchipuram (a town near
Chennai Tamil Nadu India) between seventh
and eleventh centuries The tribals are mostly
working as casual laborers in coffee estates
They are cultivating food grains fruits and
vegetable (Alagesaboopathi et al 1996)
Malayali tribals use more number of plants for
various purposes like for making construction
materials house hold implements brushing
plants fuel wood agriculture tools religious
decorative to ward off evil spirits etc This
study enumerates such useful plants which are
used by Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills
Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu India
Data Collection
Frequent field surveys were carried out in
Yercaud hills in different seasons during
November 2012ndashMarch 2014 Information on the plants was collected through personal
interview with village headman farmers and
other knowledgeable tribals The interviews
were conducted in the local language (Tamil)
the information includes local names plant
parts used and method of utilization was
gathered from them with regard to each plant
The collected information was recorded on
field note books and plants were identified
using the Flora of the Presidency of Madras
(Gamble 1935) and Flora of Tamil Nadu-
Carnatic (Matthew 1983) Plant specimens
were deposited for future references in the
Botany department Vivekanandha College of
Arts and Sciences for women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal
(DT) Tamil Nadu India
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The present study focused mainly on the
role of non timber forest products in the
livelihood of Malayali tribes of Yercaud hills
Salem district Tamil Nadu India During the
study period 84 plant species belonging to 70
genera and 42 families were identified to be
utilized by Malayali tribes (Table 1) The
reported plants were arranged to their
Botanical Name Vernacular name as recorded
during field work habit and uses Plants
utilized by Malayali tribes can be classified
under various categories like fuel wood plants
house construction and house hold implements
agriculture tools religious importance plants
plants used to ward off evil afflictions hair
care and toothbrush The plants listed mainly
belong to Rubiaceae (6 species) followed by
Fabaceae and Moraceae (5 species)
Mimosaceae Rutaceae and Poaceae (4
species) Combretaceae Anacardiaceae
Euphorbiaceae Apocynaceae (3 species)
Asparagaceae Alangiaceae Asclepidaceae
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Meliaceae Caesalpiniaceae Verbenaceae
Arecaceae Ebenaceae Lamiaceae Tiliaceae
Myrtaceae and Dipterocarpaceae (2 species)
Araceae Acanthaceae Annonaceae
Papaveraceae Bambusaceae Borangiaceae
Cyperaceae Droseraceae Proteaceae
Convolvulaceae Gyrocarpeaceae Ulmaceae
Malvaceae Lythraceae Nyctaginaceae
Moringaceae Salicaceae Araliaceae
Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species) From
the study it was observed that 51 taxa are trees
(60) 23 taxa are herbs (20) and 10 taxa are
shrub (12)
Fire wood plants
One of the most important non timber
forest products for daily life is fuel wood the
only means of energy source of Malayali
tribes The fuel wood species are collected
from the forest near to the hamlets The species
preferred for fire wood to their comfortable
availability and inflammability According to
Malayali tribes which are not considered as a
source of good timber are treated as fire wood
The fire wood utilized by Malayali tribes
belong to 15 species 15 genera and 10
families they are Albizzia lebbeck Benth
Bauhinia tomentosa L Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb Chomelia astiactica OKze
Diospyros montana Roxb Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq Holopetela integrifolia
(Roxb) Planch Mallotus philippensis M Arg
Moringa oleifera Lamk Plectronia didyma
Kurz Salix tetrasperma Roxb Shorea robusta
Roth Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels Terminalia
bellerica Roxb and Zanthoxylum budrunga
Wall
House construction and house hold
implements
Malayali tribes have good Knowledge to
use natural resources specifically plants for
their day-to-day life Malayali tribes use
Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq leaves to make
meal plate Phoenix sylverstris Roxb leaves to
make broom stick Cyperus rotundus L
Ophiuros exalatus OKtz Oryza sativa L
Sorghum vulgare L are used for roofing and
thatching Mature stem of Cassia fistula Linn
Chloroxylon swietenia DC Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl and Terminalia
chebula Retz were used to make pounder
Mature stem of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam is
used to make churn-staff woody stem of
Mangifera indica L is used to make wood
grinder leaves of Cassia fistula Linn is used
for ripening of fruits Gmelina arborea Roxb
mature stem is used as a stick for musical
instrument the fibers from the leaf fibers of
Agave americana L and Agave angustifolia
Haw are used for making coir the culm of
Bambusa arundinacea Willd is used for
making various types of baskets leaves of
Corypha umbracalifer L is used for making
baskets and decoration in ceremonies
Wood forms an important construction
material for houses cattle sheds and temporary
settlements in the area Windows doors and
cots were chiefly made up of Albizia
odoratissima Benth Cleistanthus Collins
Benth Cordia wallichii G Don Dalberiga
lanceolaria L Diospyros edenum JKoeing
Gardenia resinifera Roth Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br Melia composite Willd
Shorea roxburghii Roxb Tectona grandis
Linn Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall and
Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk
Agricultural implements
For making agricultural implements four
species were used such as Chloroxylon
swietenia DC and Bumbusa arundinacea Willd
were used for making handle of axe and woody
stem of Anogeissus latifolia Wall and Tectona
grandis Linn is made in the shape of a harrow
by Malayali tribes
Plants used for Religious purposes
Ceremonial plant use is of principal
importance in daily Malayali tribe life and
many species have a specific ceremonial
significance generally associated with
blessings age-rites and witchcraft Some plants
are used as offerings to god among these tribes
Asclepias curassavica L Cassia montana
Heyne Clerodendrum serratum L and
Plumeria rubra L flowers are used in religious
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
practice to worship God Holarrhena
pubescens (Buch-Ham) WallexGDon
Wrightia tinctoria RBr mature stem are used
in all traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions
Malayali tribes believe that some of the
plants bring good fortune and keep off evil
spirits The exudates of Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb and Semecarpus
anacardium L are used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect them from evils
afflictions brush body with leaves and root of
Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake
bite brush body with leaves of Schefflera
racemosa Harms protect from evils afflictions
roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Aitf is
stitched together and then worn around the hip
to protect from evils afflictions rhizome of the
Acorus calamus Linn is made into pieces and
stitched together and worn around the neck of a
new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions
Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate
sexual desire ie Abrus pulchellus Wall
Alangium hexapetalum Lam Canthium
parviflorum Lam Drosera indica L Evolvulus
alsinoides Linn Ficus bengalensis Linn
Grewia tenax (forssk) fiori Mimosa pudica
Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn Ocimum canum
Sims and Randia dumetorum Lam
Plants used as Toothbrush
Malayali tribals generally use the young
twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn
Azadirachta indica AJuss Ficus glomerata
Roxb Ficus religosa Linn Jatropha curcas L
and Psidium guajava Linn areial root of Ficus
benghalensis Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn
rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula Retz
fruit powder are used as tooth powder
Plants used in Hair Nourishment
Heredity older age lack of nutrition
infections (such as worms lice scabies
dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic
products (soaps shampoos and hair oils) may
cause hair loss dandruff discoloration of hairs
Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant
resources for hair disorders For example
Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a
shampoo seeds of Argemone mexicana root of
Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening
the hairs flowers of Annona squamosa amp fruit
of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff
and kill lice whole plant parts of Andrographis
echioides flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia
calendulacea prevented hair loss
Table 1 List of plants used by Malayali Tribal people for NTFP in Yercaud hills
S
No
Botanical Name Vernacular Name
(Tamil)
Family Parts used Purposes
1 Abrus pulchellus
Wall
Vellaikuntumani Fabaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
2 Acorus calamus
Linn
Vasambu Araceae Rhizome Rhizome made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the neck of new born
baby to get rid from evils
afflictions
3 Agave americana L Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
4 Agave angustifolia
Haw
Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
5 Alangium
hexapetalum Lam
Earualangi Alangiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
6 Alangium salvifolium
Linn
Alangal Alangiaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
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Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
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Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
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IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
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1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
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Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
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Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
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from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
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Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
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Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
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Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
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New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
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2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
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289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
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Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
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Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
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Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
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diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
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plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
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(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
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Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
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ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
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Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
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and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Altinier G Sosa S Aquino RP Mencherini T
Loggia RD Tubaro A (2007)
Characterization of topical
antiinflammatory compounds in
Rosmarinus officinalis L J Agric
Food Chem 55 1718ndash1723
Angioni A Barra A Cereti E Barile D
Coisson JD Arlorio M Dessi S
Coroneo V Cabras P (2004) Chemical
composition plant genetic differences
antimicrobial and antifungal activity
investigation of the essential of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry 52
3530ndash3535
Apostolides Nelly Arnold Marc El Beyrouthy
Wissal Dhifi Samir Najm Fabrice
Cazier Wafaa Najem Madonna Labaki
Antoine AbouKaiumls (2013) Chemical
Composition of Aerial Parts of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Growing Wild in Lebanon Journal of
Essential Oil Bearing Plants 16(2)
274ndash282
Atti-Santos Ana Cristina Marcelo Rossato
Gabriel Fernandes Pauletti Luciana
Duarte Rota Juarez Ciro Rech Marcia
Regina Pansera Fabiana Agostini
Luciana Atti Serafini and Patrick
Moyna (2005) Physico-chemical
Evaluation of Rosmarinus officinalis L
Essential Oils Brazilian Archives of
Biology and Technology 48(6) 1035ndash
1039
Ayadi S Jerribi C Abderrabba M (2011)
Extraction et eacutetude des huiles
essentielles de Rosmarinus Officinalis
cueillie dans trois reacutegions diffeacuterentes de
la Tunisie Journal de la Socieacuteteacute
Algeacuterienne de Chimie 21(1) 25ndash33
Bekkara F Atik Bousmaha L Taleb Bendiab S
A Boti J B Casanova J (2007)
Composition chimique de lrsquohuile
essentielle de Rosmarinus officinalis L
poussant agrave lrsquoeacutetat spontaneacute et cultiveacute de
la reacutegion de Tlemcen Biologie amp Santeacute
7(1) 6ndash11
Bendeddouche M S Benhassaini H Hazem Z
Romane A (2011) Essential oil analysis
and antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
tournefortii from Algeria Nat Prod
Commun 6 1511ndash1514
Bozin B Mimica-Dukic N Samojlik I Jovin E
(2007) Antimicrobial and antioxidant
properties of rosemary and sage
(Rosmarinus officinalis L and Salvia
officinalis L Lamiaceae) essential oils
Journal of Agricultural and Food
Chemistry 55 7879ndash7885
Calin-Sanchez Angel Antoni Szumny Adam
Figiel Klaudiusz Jałoszynski Maciej
Adamski Angel A Carbonell-
Barrachin (2011) Effects of vacuum
level and microwave power on
rosemary volatile composition during
vacuumndashmicrowave drying Journal of
Food Engineering 103 219ndash227
Cheung S Tai J (2001) Anti-proliferative and
antioxidant properties of rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis Oncol Rep 17
1525ndash1531
Deba F Xuan TD Yasudaa M Tawata S
(2008) Chemical composition and
antioxidant antibacterial and antifungal
activities of the essential oils from
Bidens pilosa Linn var Radiata Food
Control 19 346ndash352
Derwich E Benziane Z Chabir R (2011)
Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of
Morocco Chemical Composition of
essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis
and Juniperus Phoenicea International
Journal of Applied Biology and
Pharmaceutical Technology 2(1) 145ndash
153
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Diaz-Maroto MC Perez-Coello MS Sanchez-
Palomo E Gonzalez-Vinas MA (2007)
Impact of drying and storage time on
sensory characteristics of rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis L) Journal of
Sensory Studies 22 34ndash48
Fabio A Cermelli C Fabio G Nicoletti P
Quaglio P (2007) Screening of the
antibacterial effects of a variety of
essential oils on microorganisms
responsible for respiratory infections
Phytother Res 21 374ndash377
Fadli Mariam Jacqueline Chevalier Asmaa
Saad Nour-Eddine Mezrioui Lahcen
Hassani Jean-Marie Pages (2011)
Essential oils from Moroccan plants as
potential chemosensitisers restoring
antibiotic activity in resistant Gram-
negative bacteria International Journal
of Antimicrobial Agents 38 325ndash330
Faixov ZR Faix S (2008) Biological effects of
Rosmary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
essensial oil (A Review) Folia
Veterinaria 5(3-4) 135ndash139
Gachkar L Yadegari D Rezaei MB
Taghizadeh M Astaneh SA Rasooli I
(2007) Chemical and biological
characteristics of Cuminum cyminum
and Rosmarinus officinalis essential
oils Food Chemistry 102 898ndash904
Hussain Abdullah I Farooq Anwar Poonam S
Nigam Satyajit D Sarker John E
Moore Juluri R Rao Anisha Mazumdar
(2011) Antibacterial activity of some
Lamiaceae essential oils using resazurin
as an indicator of cell growth LWT
Food Science and Technology 44
1199ndash1206
Issabeagloo Eilyad Parviz Kermanizadeh
Mohammad Taghizadieh Reza Forughi
(2012) Antimicrobial effects of
rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L)
essential oils against Staphylococcus
spp African Journal of Microbiology
Research 6(23) 5039ndash5042
Jalali-Heravi Mehdi Rudabeh Sadat Moazeni
Hassan Sereshti (2011) Analysis of
Iranian rosemary essential oil
Application of gas chromatographyndash
mass spectrometry combined with
chemometrics Journal of
Chromatography A 1218 2569ndash2576
Jiang Y Wu N Fu Y-J Wang W Luo M Zhao
CJ Zu YG Liu XL (2011) Chemical
composition and antimicrobial activity
of the essential oil of Rosemary
Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 32 63ndash
68
Jordan MJ Lax V Martinez C Aouissat M
Sotomayor JA 2011 Chemical
intraspecific variability and chemotypes
determination of Rosmarinus officinalis
L in the region of Murcia Acta
Horticulturae 925 109ndash114
Jordan MJ Vanesa Lax Maria C Rota Susana
Loran Joseacute A Sotomayor (2013)
Effect of bioclimatic area on the
essential oil composition and
antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L Food Control 30 463ndash
468
Kadri Adel Zied Zarai Ines BenChobba
Ahmed Beacutekir Neacuteji Gharsallah
Mohamed Damak Radhouane Gdoura
(2011) Chemical constituents and
antioxidant properties of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil cultivated
from the South-Western of Tunisia
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research
5(29) 6502ndash6508
Lopez P Sanchez C Battle R Nerin C (2005)
Soilid- and vapour-phase antimicrobial
activities of six essential oils
Susceptibility of selected foodborne
bacterial and fungal strains Agric Food
Chem 53 6939ndash6946
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Maistro EL Mota SF Lima EB Bernardes
BM Goulart FC (2010) Genotoxicity
and mutagenicity of Rosmarinus
officinalis (Labiatae) essential oil in
mammalian cells in vivo Genetics and
Molecular Research 9(4) 2113ndash2122
Martins MR Tinoco MT Almeida AS Cruz-
Morais J (2012) Chemical
Composition Antioxidant and
Antimicrobial properties of three
Essential oils from Portuguese Flora
Journal of Pharmacognosy 3(1) 39ndash44
Masuda T Inaba Y Takeda Y (2001)
Antioxidant mechanism of carnosic
acid structural identification of two
oxidation products J Agric Food
Chem 49 5560ndash5565
Matsuzaki Yusuke Toshiyuki Tsujisawa
Tatsuji Nishihara Mari Nakamura
Yasuaki Kakinoki (2013) Antifungal
activity of chemotype essential oils
from rosemary against Candida
albicans Open Journal of Stomatology
3 176ndash182
Mudasir A Tantry Syed Shabir Reehana Khan
Afsha Habib Seema Akbar (2012)
Determination of Essential Oil
Composition of Rosmarinus officinalis
Growing as Exotic species in Kashmir
Valley Chemistry of Natural
Compounds 47(6) 1012ndash1014
Mugnaini L Nardoni S Pinto L Pistelli L
Leonardi M Pisseri F Mancianti F
(2012) In vitro and in vivo antifungal
activity of some essential oils against
feline isolates of Microsporum canis
Journal de Mycologie Meacutedicale 22
179ndash184
Pino JA Estrarron M Fuentes V (1998)
Essential Oil of Rosemary (Rosmarinus
Officinalis L) from Cuba J Essent Oil
Res 10 111
Poeckel D Greiner C Verhoff M Rau O
Tausch L Heornig C Steinhilber D
Schubert-Zsilavecz M Werz O (2008)
Carnosic acid and carnosol potently
inhibit human 5-lipoxygenase and
suppress pro-inflammatory responses of
stimulated human polymorphonuclear
leukocytes Biochem Pharmacol 76
91ndash97
Prabuseenivasan S Jayakumar M Ignacimuthu
S (2006) In vitro antibacterial activity
of some plant essential oils BMC
Complement Altern Med 6 39
Reichling J Schnitzler P Suschke U Saller R
(2009) Essential oils of aromatic plants
with antibacterial antifungal antiviral
and cytotoxic properties-An overview
Forsch Komplementmed 16 79ndash90
Salido S Altarejos J Nogueras M Sanchez A
Luque P (2003) Chemical composition
and seasonal variations of rosemary oil
from Southern Spain Journal of
Essentials Oil Research 15 10ndash14
Santoyo S Cavero S Jaime L Ibanez E
Senorans FJ Reglero G (2005)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil obtained via
supercritical fluid extraction Journal of
Food Protection 68(4) 790ndash795
Sienkiewicz M Kowalczyk E Wasiela M
(2012) Recent patents regarding
essential oils and the significance of
their constituents in human health and
treatment Recent Pat Anti Infect Drug
Discov 7 133ndash140
Sienkiewicz Monika Monika Lysakowska
Marta Pastuszka Wojciech Bienias
Edward Kowalczyk (2013) The
Potential of Use Basil and Rosemary
Essential Oils as Effective Antibacterial
Agents Molecules 18 9334ndash9351
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Sui Xiaoyu Tingting Liu Chunhui Ma Lei
Yang Yuangang Zu Lin Zhang Hua
Wang (2012) Microwave irradiation to
pretreat rosemary (Rosmarinus
officinalis L) for maintaining
antioxidant content during storage and
to extract essential oil simultaneously
Food Chemistry 131 1399ndash1405
Szumny Antoni Adam Figiel Antonio
Gutierrez-Ortiz Angel A Carbonell
Barrachina (2010) Composition of
rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus
officinalis) as affected by drying
method Journal of Food Engineering
97 253ndash260
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre
Chalard Gilles Figueredo (2013)
Characteristics of Essential oils of
Rosmarinus officinalis from eastern
Algeria Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med 2(12) 794ndash807
Varela F Navarrete P Cristobal R Fanlo M
Melero R Sotomayor J A (2009)
Variability in the chemical composition
of wild Rosmarinus officinalis L Acta
Horticulturae 826 167ndash174
Verma Ram S Laiqur Rahman Sunita Mishra
Rajesh K V Amit Chauhan Anand
Singh (2011) Changes in essential oil
content and composition of leaf and leaf
powder of Rosmarinus officinalis cv
CIM-Hariyali during storage Maejo Int
J Sci Technol 5(02) 181ndash190
Viuda-Martos M El Gendy A E-N G S
Sendra E Fernandez-Lopez J Abd El
Razik K A Omer E A Jose A Perez-
Alvarez (2010) Chemical composition
and antioxidant and anti-Listeria
activities of essential oils obtained from
some Egyptian plants Journal
Agriculture Food Chemistry 58(16)
9063ndash9070
Wang Wei Nan Li Meng Luo Yuangang Zu
Thomas Efferth (2012) Antibacterial
Activity and Anticancer Activity of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Compared to That of Its Main
Components Molecules 17 2704ndash
2713
Yang Jiang Nan Wu Yu-Jie Fu Wei Wang
Meng Luo Chun-Jian Zhao Yuan-
Gang Zu Xiao-Lei Liu (2011)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of the essential oil
of Rosemary Environmental
Toxicology and Pharmacology 32 63ndash
68
Zaouali Y Messaoud C BenSalah A Boussaid
M (2005) Oil composition variability
among populations in relationship with
their ecological areas in Tunisian
Rosmarinus officinalis L Flavour
Fragrance J 20 512ndash520
Source of Support Algerian MESRS and
Chemical Laboratory of carbohydrates
Heterocyclic of Clermont Ferrant France
Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS
SALEM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU INDIA
Rekha R
1 Senthil Kumar S
2
1 2PG and Research Department of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and Science for Women
(Autonomous) Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal(DT) Tamil Nadu India
Corresponding Author E- Mail rekha87rajagmailcom
Received 26042014 Revised 24052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
An ethno-botanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills Southern
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu India during November 2012ndashMarch 2014 This study
mainly focused on the plants used by the Malayali tribes for various purposes (Construction
materials house hold implements brushing fuel wood agriculture tools religious decorative to
ward off evil spirits) through standardized questionnaires interviews and discussions with very old
and knowledgeable tribals A total of 84 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 42 families were
recorded in the present study These extremely important plants should be taken into account and
steps have to be taken to increase their production for future benefit
KEY WORDS Yercaud hills Malayali tribes Ethno-botany
Research Article
Cite this article
Rekha R Senthil Kumar S (2014) ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS SALEM DISTRICT
TAMIL NADU INDIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 243ndash251
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
Plants are used against a number of
diseases by many indigenous communities in
traditional medicine plants are also used in
building materials fodder weapons and other
commodities of economical importance The
tribal people are economically backward ethnic
groups and constitute separate socio-cultural
groups Many local and indigenous
communities in Asian countries meet their
basic needs from the forest products they
manufacture and sell based on their traditional
knowledge (John Kennedy 2006) Yercaud
hills have been gifted with enormous number
of plant species Tribal people living in
Yercaud hills depend on these plants for their
survival These plants play a vital role in their
life as these people depend on the forest wealth
to meet their needs Their economic condition
is determined by these plants Yercaud hill
range is situated to the north-east part of
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu
India with rich vegetation and it covers an area
of 150 square miles (390 Sq km) It lies
between 11deg45rsquo56rdquo N latitude and 78deg17rsquo55rdquo E
longitude The temperature ranges from 13degC
to 29degC on the peaks and 25degC to 40degC at the
foot hills The average annual rainfall is around
1500ndash1750 mm The indigenous people
inhabiting Yercaud hill are called Malayali the
oldest group of the branch of the ethnic group
in South India Malayali simply means a hill
person an appellation distinguishing them from
the people of plains In physical appearance
they scarcely differ from the people of plains
They speak Tamil dialect of their own They
are supposed to be descendants of
Kanchipuram vellalar They appear to have
migrated from Kanchipuram (a town near
Chennai Tamil Nadu India) between seventh
and eleventh centuries The tribals are mostly
working as casual laborers in coffee estates
They are cultivating food grains fruits and
vegetable (Alagesaboopathi et al 1996)
Malayali tribals use more number of plants for
various purposes like for making construction
materials house hold implements brushing
plants fuel wood agriculture tools religious
decorative to ward off evil spirits etc This
study enumerates such useful plants which are
used by Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills
Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu India
Data Collection
Frequent field surveys were carried out in
Yercaud hills in different seasons during
November 2012ndashMarch 2014 Information on the plants was collected through personal
interview with village headman farmers and
other knowledgeable tribals The interviews
were conducted in the local language (Tamil)
the information includes local names plant
parts used and method of utilization was
gathered from them with regard to each plant
The collected information was recorded on
field note books and plants were identified
using the Flora of the Presidency of Madras
(Gamble 1935) and Flora of Tamil Nadu-
Carnatic (Matthew 1983) Plant specimens
were deposited for future references in the
Botany department Vivekanandha College of
Arts and Sciences for women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal
(DT) Tamil Nadu India
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The present study focused mainly on the
role of non timber forest products in the
livelihood of Malayali tribes of Yercaud hills
Salem district Tamil Nadu India During the
study period 84 plant species belonging to 70
genera and 42 families were identified to be
utilized by Malayali tribes (Table 1) The
reported plants were arranged to their
Botanical Name Vernacular name as recorded
during field work habit and uses Plants
utilized by Malayali tribes can be classified
under various categories like fuel wood plants
house construction and house hold implements
agriculture tools religious importance plants
plants used to ward off evil afflictions hair
care and toothbrush The plants listed mainly
belong to Rubiaceae (6 species) followed by
Fabaceae and Moraceae (5 species)
Mimosaceae Rutaceae and Poaceae (4
species) Combretaceae Anacardiaceae
Euphorbiaceae Apocynaceae (3 species)
Asparagaceae Alangiaceae Asclepidaceae
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Meliaceae Caesalpiniaceae Verbenaceae
Arecaceae Ebenaceae Lamiaceae Tiliaceae
Myrtaceae and Dipterocarpaceae (2 species)
Araceae Acanthaceae Annonaceae
Papaveraceae Bambusaceae Borangiaceae
Cyperaceae Droseraceae Proteaceae
Convolvulaceae Gyrocarpeaceae Ulmaceae
Malvaceae Lythraceae Nyctaginaceae
Moringaceae Salicaceae Araliaceae
Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species) From
the study it was observed that 51 taxa are trees
(60) 23 taxa are herbs (20) and 10 taxa are
shrub (12)
Fire wood plants
One of the most important non timber
forest products for daily life is fuel wood the
only means of energy source of Malayali
tribes The fuel wood species are collected
from the forest near to the hamlets The species
preferred for fire wood to their comfortable
availability and inflammability According to
Malayali tribes which are not considered as a
source of good timber are treated as fire wood
The fire wood utilized by Malayali tribes
belong to 15 species 15 genera and 10
families they are Albizzia lebbeck Benth
Bauhinia tomentosa L Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb Chomelia astiactica OKze
Diospyros montana Roxb Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq Holopetela integrifolia
(Roxb) Planch Mallotus philippensis M Arg
Moringa oleifera Lamk Plectronia didyma
Kurz Salix tetrasperma Roxb Shorea robusta
Roth Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels Terminalia
bellerica Roxb and Zanthoxylum budrunga
Wall
House construction and house hold
implements
Malayali tribes have good Knowledge to
use natural resources specifically plants for
their day-to-day life Malayali tribes use
Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq leaves to make
meal plate Phoenix sylverstris Roxb leaves to
make broom stick Cyperus rotundus L
Ophiuros exalatus OKtz Oryza sativa L
Sorghum vulgare L are used for roofing and
thatching Mature stem of Cassia fistula Linn
Chloroxylon swietenia DC Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl and Terminalia
chebula Retz were used to make pounder
Mature stem of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam is
used to make churn-staff woody stem of
Mangifera indica L is used to make wood
grinder leaves of Cassia fistula Linn is used
for ripening of fruits Gmelina arborea Roxb
mature stem is used as a stick for musical
instrument the fibers from the leaf fibers of
Agave americana L and Agave angustifolia
Haw are used for making coir the culm of
Bambusa arundinacea Willd is used for
making various types of baskets leaves of
Corypha umbracalifer L is used for making
baskets and decoration in ceremonies
Wood forms an important construction
material for houses cattle sheds and temporary
settlements in the area Windows doors and
cots were chiefly made up of Albizia
odoratissima Benth Cleistanthus Collins
Benth Cordia wallichii G Don Dalberiga
lanceolaria L Diospyros edenum JKoeing
Gardenia resinifera Roth Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br Melia composite Willd
Shorea roxburghii Roxb Tectona grandis
Linn Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall and
Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk
Agricultural implements
For making agricultural implements four
species were used such as Chloroxylon
swietenia DC and Bumbusa arundinacea Willd
were used for making handle of axe and woody
stem of Anogeissus latifolia Wall and Tectona
grandis Linn is made in the shape of a harrow
by Malayali tribes
Plants used for Religious purposes
Ceremonial plant use is of principal
importance in daily Malayali tribe life and
many species have a specific ceremonial
significance generally associated with
blessings age-rites and witchcraft Some plants
are used as offerings to god among these tribes
Asclepias curassavica L Cassia montana
Heyne Clerodendrum serratum L and
Plumeria rubra L flowers are used in religious
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
practice to worship God Holarrhena
pubescens (Buch-Ham) WallexGDon
Wrightia tinctoria RBr mature stem are used
in all traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions
Malayali tribes believe that some of the
plants bring good fortune and keep off evil
spirits The exudates of Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb and Semecarpus
anacardium L are used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect them from evils
afflictions brush body with leaves and root of
Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake
bite brush body with leaves of Schefflera
racemosa Harms protect from evils afflictions
roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Aitf is
stitched together and then worn around the hip
to protect from evils afflictions rhizome of the
Acorus calamus Linn is made into pieces and
stitched together and worn around the neck of a
new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions
Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate
sexual desire ie Abrus pulchellus Wall
Alangium hexapetalum Lam Canthium
parviflorum Lam Drosera indica L Evolvulus
alsinoides Linn Ficus bengalensis Linn
Grewia tenax (forssk) fiori Mimosa pudica
Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn Ocimum canum
Sims and Randia dumetorum Lam
Plants used as Toothbrush
Malayali tribals generally use the young
twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn
Azadirachta indica AJuss Ficus glomerata
Roxb Ficus religosa Linn Jatropha curcas L
and Psidium guajava Linn areial root of Ficus
benghalensis Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn
rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula Retz
fruit powder are used as tooth powder
Plants used in Hair Nourishment
Heredity older age lack of nutrition
infections (such as worms lice scabies
dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic
products (soaps shampoos and hair oils) may
cause hair loss dandruff discoloration of hairs
Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant
resources for hair disorders For example
Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a
shampoo seeds of Argemone mexicana root of
Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening
the hairs flowers of Annona squamosa amp fruit
of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff
and kill lice whole plant parts of Andrographis
echioides flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia
calendulacea prevented hair loss
Table 1 List of plants used by Malayali Tribal people for NTFP in Yercaud hills
S
No
Botanical Name Vernacular Name
(Tamil)
Family Parts used Purposes
1 Abrus pulchellus
Wall
Vellaikuntumani Fabaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
2 Acorus calamus
Linn
Vasambu Araceae Rhizome Rhizome made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the neck of new born
baby to get rid from evils
afflictions
3 Agave americana L Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
4 Agave angustifolia
Haw
Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
5 Alangium
hexapetalum Lam
Earualangi Alangiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
6 Alangium salvifolium
Linn
Alangal Alangiaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
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were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
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have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
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Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
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1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
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Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
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Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
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Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
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Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
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Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
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Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
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Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
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Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
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Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
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Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
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Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
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Journal of Microbiology and
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
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Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
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Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
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(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
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an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
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source of the anticancer pro-drug
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Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
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Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
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Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
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Hydroxypropionic acid was a
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Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
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Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
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Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
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Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
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Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
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Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
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metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
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hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
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Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
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Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
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natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
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and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
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109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
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Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
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Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
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fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
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Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
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expressed non ribosomal peptide
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endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
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herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
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Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
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WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Diaz-Maroto MC Perez-Coello MS Sanchez-
Palomo E Gonzalez-Vinas MA (2007)
Impact of drying and storage time on
sensory characteristics of rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis L) Journal of
Sensory Studies 22 34ndash48
Fabio A Cermelli C Fabio G Nicoletti P
Quaglio P (2007) Screening of the
antibacterial effects of a variety of
essential oils on microorganisms
responsible for respiratory infections
Phytother Res 21 374ndash377
Fadli Mariam Jacqueline Chevalier Asmaa
Saad Nour-Eddine Mezrioui Lahcen
Hassani Jean-Marie Pages (2011)
Essential oils from Moroccan plants as
potential chemosensitisers restoring
antibiotic activity in resistant Gram-
negative bacteria International Journal
of Antimicrobial Agents 38 325ndash330
Faixov ZR Faix S (2008) Biological effects of
Rosmary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
essensial oil (A Review) Folia
Veterinaria 5(3-4) 135ndash139
Gachkar L Yadegari D Rezaei MB
Taghizadeh M Astaneh SA Rasooli I
(2007) Chemical and biological
characteristics of Cuminum cyminum
and Rosmarinus officinalis essential
oils Food Chemistry 102 898ndash904
Hussain Abdullah I Farooq Anwar Poonam S
Nigam Satyajit D Sarker John E
Moore Juluri R Rao Anisha Mazumdar
(2011) Antibacterial activity of some
Lamiaceae essential oils using resazurin
as an indicator of cell growth LWT
Food Science and Technology 44
1199ndash1206
Issabeagloo Eilyad Parviz Kermanizadeh
Mohammad Taghizadieh Reza Forughi
(2012) Antimicrobial effects of
rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L)
essential oils against Staphylococcus
spp African Journal of Microbiology
Research 6(23) 5039ndash5042
Jalali-Heravi Mehdi Rudabeh Sadat Moazeni
Hassan Sereshti (2011) Analysis of
Iranian rosemary essential oil
Application of gas chromatographyndash
mass spectrometry combined with
chemometrics Journal of
Chromatography A 1218 2569ndash2576
Jiang Y Wu N Fu Y-J Wang W Luo M Zhao
CJ Zu YG Liu XL (2011) Chemical
composition and antimicrobial activity
of the essential oil of Rosemary
Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 32 63ndash
68
Jordan MJ Lax V Martinez C Aouissat M
Sotomayor JA 2011 Chemical
intraspecific variability and chemotypes
determination of Rosmarinus officinalis
L in the region of Murcia Acta
Horticulturae 925 109ndash114
Jordan MJ Vanesa Lax Maria C Rota Susana
Loran Joseacute A Sotomayor (2013)
Effect of bioclimatic area on the
essential oil composition and
antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L Food Control 30 463ndash
468
Kadri Adel Zied Zarai Ines BenChobba
Ahmed Beacutekir Neacuteji Gharsallah
Mohamed Damak Radhouane Gdoura
(2011) Chemical constituents and
antioxidant properties of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil cultivated
from the South-Western of Tunisia
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research
5(29) 6502ndash6508
Lopez P Sanchez C Battle R Nerin C (2005)
Soilid- and vapour-phase antimicrobial
activities of six essential oils
Susceptibility of selected foodborne
bacterial and fungal strains Agric Food
Chem 53 6939ndash6946
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Maistro EL Mota SF Lima EB Bernardes
BM Goulart FC (2010) Genotoxicity
and mutagenicity of Rosmarinus
officinalis (Labiatae) essential oil in
mammalian cells in vivo Genetics and
Molecular Research 9(4) 2113ndash2122
Martins MR Tinoco MT Almeida AS Cruz-
Morais J (2012) Chemical
Composition Antioxidant and
Antimicrobial properties of three
Essential oils from Portuguese Flora
Journal of Pharmacognosy 3(1) 39ndash44
Masuda T Inaba Y Takeda Y (2001)
Antioxidant mechanism of carnosic
acid structural identification of two
oxidation products J Agric Food
Chem 49 5560ndash5565
Matsuzaki Yusuke Toshiyuki Tsujisawa
Tatsuji Nishihara Mari Nakamura
Yasuaki Kakinoki (2013) Antifungal
activity of chemotype essential oils
from rosemary against Candida
albicans Open Journal of Stomatology
3 176ndash182
Mudasir A Tantry Syed Shabir Reehana Khan
Afsha Habib Seema Akbar (2012)
Determination of Essential Oil
Composition of Rosmarinus officinalis
Growing as Exotic species in Kashmir
Valley Chemistry of Natural
Compounds 47(6) 1012ndash1014
Mugnaini L Nardoni S Pinto L Pistelli L
Leonardi M Pisseri F Mancianti F
(2012) In vitro and in vivo antifungal
activity of some essential oils against
feline isolates of Microsporum canis
Journal de Mycologie Meacutedicale 22
179ndash184
Pino JA Estrarron M Fuentes V (1998)
Essential Oil of Rosemary (Rosmarinus
Officinalis L) from Cuba J Essent Oil
Res 10 111
Poeckel D Greiner C Verhoff M Rau O
Tausch L Heornig C Steinhilber D
Schubert-Zsilavecz M Werz O (2008)
Carnosic acid and carnosol potently
inhibit human 5-lipoxygenase and
suppress pro-inflammatory responses of
stimulated human polymorphonuclear
leukocytes Biochem Pharmacol 76
91ndash97
Prabuseenivasan S Jayakumar M Ignacimuthu
S (2006) In vitro antibacterial activity
of some plant essential oils BMC
Complement Altern Med 6 39
Reichling J Schnitzler P Suschke U Saller R
(2009) Essential oils of aromatic plants
with antibacterial antifungal antiviral
and cytotoxic properties-An overview
Forsch Komplementmed 16 79ndash90
Salido S Altarejos J Nogueras M Sanchez A
Luque P (2003) Chemical composition
and seasonal variations of rosemary oil
from Southern Spain Journal of
Essentials Oil Research 15 10ndash14
Santoyo S Cavero S Jaime L Ibanez E
Senorans FJ Reglero G (2005)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil obtained via
supercritical fluid extraction Journal of
Food Protection 68(4) 790ndash795
Sienkiewicz M Kowalczyk E Wasiela M
(2012) Recent patents regarding
essential oils and the significance of
their constituents in human health and
treatment Recent Pat Anti Infect Drug
Discov 7 133ndash140
Sienkiewicz Monika Monika Lysakowska
Marta Pastuszka Wojciech Bienias
Edward Kowalczyk (2013) The
Potential of Use Basil and Rosemary
Essential Oils as Effective Antibacterial
Agents Molecules 18 9334ndash9351
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Sui Xiaoyu Tingting Liu Chunhui Ma Lei
Yang Yuangang Zu Lin Zhang Hua
Wang (2012) Microwave irradiation to
pretreat rosemary (Rosmarinus
officinalis L) for maintaining
antioxidant content during storage and
to extract essential oil simultaneously
Food Chemistry 131 1399ndash1405
Szumny Antoni Adam Figiel Antonio
Gutierrez-Ortiz Angel A Carbonell
Barrachina (2010) Composition of
rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus
officinalis) as affected by drying
method Journal of Food Engineering
97 253ndash260
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre
Chalard Gilles Figueredo (2013)
Characteristics of Essential oils of
Rosmarinus officinalis from eastern
Algeria Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med 2(12) 794ndash807
Varela F Navarrete P Cristobal R Fanlo M
Melero R Sotomayor J A (2009)
Variability in the chemical composition
of wild Rosmarinus officinalis L Acta
Horticulturae 826 167ndash174
Verma Ram S Laiqur Rahman Sunita Mishra
Rajesh K V Amit Chauhan Anand
Singh (2011) Changes in essential oil
content and composition of leaf and leaf
powder of Rosmarinus officinalis cv
CIM-Hariyali during storage Maejo Int
J Sci Technol 5(02) 181ndash190
Viuda-Martos M El Gendy A E-N G S
Sendra E Fernandez-Lopez J Abd El
Razik K A Omer E A Jose A Perez-
Alvarez (2010) Chemical composition
and antioxidant and anti-Listeria
activities of essential oils obtained from
some Egyptian plants Journal
Agriculture Food Chemistry 58(16)
9063ndash9070
Wang Wei Nan Li Meng Luo Yuangang Zu
Thomas Efferth (2012) Antibacterial
Activity and Anticancer Activity of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Compared to That of Its Main
Components Molecules 17 2704ndash
2713
Yang Jiang Nan Wu Yu-Jie Fu Wei Wang
Meng Luo Chun-Jian Zhao Yuan-
Gang Zu Xiao-Lei Liu (2011)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of the essential oil
of Rosemary Environmental
Toxicology and Pharmacology 32 63ndash
68
Zaouali Y Messaoud C BenSalah A Boussaid
M (2005) Oil composition variability
among populations in relationship with
their ecological areas in Tunisian
Rosmarinus officinalis L Flavour
Fragrance J 20 512ndash520
Source of Support Algerian MESRS and
Chemical Laboratory of carbohydrates
Heterocyclic of Clermont Ferrant France
Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS
SALEM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU INDIA
Rekha R
1 Senthil Kumar S
2
1 2PG and Research Department of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and Science for Women
(Autonomous) Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal(DT) Tamil Nadu India
Corresponding Author E- Mail rekha87rajagmailcom
Received 26042014 Revised 24052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
An ethno-botanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills Southern
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu India during November 2012ndashMarch 2014 This study
mainly focused on the plants used by the Malayali tribes for various purposes (Construction
materials house hold implements brushing fuel wood agriculture tools religious decorative to
ward off evil spirits) through standardized questionnaires interviews and discussions with very old
and knowledgeable tribals A total of 84 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 42 families were
recorded in the present study These extremely important plants should be taken into account and
steps have to be taken to increase their production for future benefit
KEY WORDS Yercaud hills Malayali tribes Ethno-botany
Research Article
Cite this article
Rekha R Senthil Kumar S (2014) ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS SALEM DISTRICT
TAMIL NADU INDIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 243ndash251
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
Plants are used against a number of
diseases by many indigenous communities in
traditional medicine plants are also used in
building materials fodder weapons and other
commodities of economical importance The
tribal people are economically backward ethnic
groups and constitute separate socio-cultural
groups Many local and indigenous
communities in Asian countries meet their
basic needs from the forest products they
manufacture and sell based on their traditional
knowledge (John Kennedy 2006) Yercaud
hills have been gifted with enormous number
of plant species Tribal people living in
Yercaud hills depend on these plants for their
survival These plants play a vital role in their
life as these people depend on the forest wealth
to meet their needs Their economic condition
is determined by these plants Yercaud hill
range is situated to the north-east part of
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu
India with rich vegetation and it covers an area
of 150 square miles (390 Sq km) It lies
between 11deg45rsquo56rdquo N latitude and 78deg17rsquo55rdquo E
longitude The temperature ranges from 13degC
to 29degC on the peaks and 25degC to 40degC at the
foot hills The average annual rainfall is around
1500ndash1750 mm The indigenous people
inhabiting Yercaud hill are called Malayali the
oldest group of the branch of the ethnic group
in South India Malayali simply means a hill
person an appellation distinguishing them from
the people of plains In physical appearance
they scarcely differ from the people of plains
They speak Tamil dialect of their own They
are supposed to be descendants of
Kanchipuram vellalar They appear to have
migrated from Kanchipuram (a town near
Chennai Tamil Nadu India) between seventh
and eleventh centuries The tribals are mostly
working as casual laborers in coffee estates
They are cultivating food grains fruits and
vegetable (Alagesaboopathi et al 1996)
Malayali tribals use more number of plants for
various purposes like for making construction
materials house hold implements brushing
plants fuel wood agriculture tools religious
decorative to ward off evil spirits etc This
study enumerates such useful plants which are
used by Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills
Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu India
Data Collection
Frequent field surveys were carried out in
Yercaud hills in different seasons during
November 2012ndashMarch 2014 Information on the plants was collected through personal
interview with village headman farmers and
other knowledgeable tribals The interviews
were conducted in the local language (Tamil)
the information includes local names plant
parts used and method of utilization was
gathered from them with regard to each plant
The collected information was recorded on
field note books and plants were identified
using the Flora of the Presidency of Madras
(Gamble 1935) and Flora of Tamil Nadu-
Carnatic (Matthew 1983) Plant specimens
were deposited for future references in the
Botany department Vivekanandha College of
Arts and Sciences for women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal
(DT) Tamil Nadu India
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The present study focused mainly on the
role of non timber forest products in the
livelihood of Malayali tribes of Yercaud hills
Salem district Tamil Nadu India During the
study period 84 plant species belonging to 70
genera and 42 families were identified to be
utilized by Malayali tribes (Table 1) The
reported plants were arranged to their
Botanical Name Vernacular name as recorded
during field work habit and uses Plants
utilized by Malayali tribes can be classified
under various categories like fuel wood plants
house construction and house hold implements
agriculture tools religious importance plants
plants used to ward off evil afflictions hair
care and toothbrush The plants listed mainly
belong to Rubiaceae (6 species) followed by
Fabaceae and Moraceae (5 species)
Mimosaceae Rutaceae and Poaceae (4
species) Combretaceae Anacardiaceae
Euphorbiaceae Apocynaceae (3 species)
Asparagaceae Alangiaceae Asclepidaceae
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Meliaceae Caesalpiniaceae Verbenaceae
Arecaceae Ebenaceae Lamiaceae Tiliaceae
Myrtaceae and Dipterocarpaceae (2 species)
Araceae Acanthaceae Annonaceae
Papaveraceae Bambusaceae Borangiaceae
Cyperaceae Droseraceae Proteaceae
Convolvulaceae Gyrocarpeaceae Ulmaceae
Malvaceae Lythraceae Nyctaginaceae
Moringaceae Salicaceae Araliaceae
Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species) From
the study it was observed that 51 taxa are trees
(60) 23 taxa are herbs (20) and 10 taxa are
shrub (12)
Fire wood plants
One of the most important non timber
forest products for daily life is fuel wood the
only means of energy source of Malayali
tribes The fuel wood species are collected
from the forest near to the hamlets The species
preferred for fire wood to their comfortable
availability and inflammability According to
Malayali tribes which are not considered as a
source of good timber are treated as fire wood
The fire wood utilized by Malayali tribes
belong to 15 species 15 genera and 10
families they are Albizzia lebbeck Benth
Bauhinia tomentosa L Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb Chomelia astiactica OKze
Diospyros montana Roxb Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq Holopetela integrifolia
(Roxb) Planch Mallotus philippensis M Arg
Moringa oleifera Lamk Plectronia didyma
Kurz Salix tetrasperma Roxb Shorea robusta
Roth Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels Terminalia
bellerica Roxb and Zanthoxylum budrunga
Wall
House construction and house hold
implements
Malayali tribes have good Knowledge to
use natural resources specifically plants for
their day-to-day life Malayali tribes use
Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq leaves to make
meal plate Phoenix sylverstris Roxb leaves to
make broom stick Cyperus rotundus L
Ophiuros exalatus OKtz Oryza sativa L
Sorghum vulgare L are used for roofing and
thatching Mature stem of Cassia fistula Linn
Chloroxylon swietenia DC Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl and Terminalia
chebula Retz were used to make pounder
Mature stem of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam is
used to make churn-staff woody stem of
Mangifera indica L is used to make wood
grinder leaves of Cassia fistula Linn is used
for ripening of fruits Gmelina arborea Roxb
mature stem is used as a stick for musical
instrument the fibers from the leaf fibers of
Agave americana L and Agave angustifolia
Haw are used for making coir the culm of
Bambusa arundinacea Willd is used for
making various types of baskets leaves of
Corypha umbracalifer L is used for making
baskets and decoration in ceremonies
Wood forms an important construction
material for houses cattle sheds and temporary
settlements in the area Windows doors and
cots were chiefly made up of Albizia
odoratissima Benth Cleistanthus Collins
Benth Cordia wallichii G Don Dalberiga
lanceolaria L Diospyros edenum JKoeing
Gardenia resinifera Roth Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br Melia composite Willd
Shorea roxburghii Roxb Tectona grandis
Linn Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall and
Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk
Agricultural implements
For making agricultural implements four
species were used such as Chloroxylon
swietenia DC and Bumbusa arundinacea Willd
were used for making handle of axe and woody
stem of Anogeissus latifolia Wall and Tectona
grandis Linn is made in the shape of a harrow
by Malayali tribes
Plants used for Religious purposes
Ceremonial plant use is of principal
importance in daily Malayali tribe life and
many species have a specific ceremonial
significance generally associated with
blessings age-rites and witchcraft Some plants
are used as offerings to god among these tribes
Asclepias curassavica L Cassia montana
Heyne Clerodendrum serratum L and
Plumeria rubra L flowers are used in religious
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
practice to worship God Holarrhena
pubescens (Buch-Ham) WallexGDon
Wrightia tinctoria RBr mature stem are used
in all traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions
Malayali tribes believe that some of the
plants bring good fortune and keep off evil
spirits The exudates of Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb and Semecarpus
anacardium L are used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect them from evils
afflictions brush body with leaves and root of
Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake
bite brush body with leaves of Schefflera
racemosa Harms protect from evils afflictions
roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Aitf is
stitched together and then worn around the hip
to protect from evils afflictions rhizome of the
Acorus calamus Linn is made into pieces and
stitched together and worn around the neck of a
new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions
Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate
sexual desire ie Abrus pulchellus Wall
Alangium hexapetalum Lam Canthium
parviflorum Lam Drosera indica L Evolvulus
alsinoides Linn Ficus bengalensis Linn
Grewia tenax (forssk) fiori Mimosa pudica
Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn Ocimum canum
Sims and Randia dumetorum Lam
Plants used as Toothbrush
Malayali tribals generally use the young
twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn
Azadirachta indica AJuss Ficus glomerata
Roxb Ficus religosa Linn Jatropha curcas L
and Psidium guajava Linn areial root of Ficus
benghalensis Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn
rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula Retz
fruit powder are used as tooth powder
Plants used in Hair Nourishment
Heredity older age lack of nutrition
infections (such as worms lice scabies
dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic
products (soaps shampoos and hair oils) may
cause hair loss dandruff discoloration of hairs
Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant
resources for hair disorders For example
Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a
shampoo seeds of Argemone mexicana root of
Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening
the hairs flowers of Annona squamosa amp fruit
of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff
and kill lice whole plant parts of Andrographis
echioides flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia
calendulacea prevented hair loss
Table 1 List of plants used by Malayali Tribal people for NTFP in Yercaud hills
S
No
Botanical Name Vernacular Name
(Tamil)
Family Parts used Purposes
1 Abrus pulchellus
Wall
Vellaikuntumani Fabaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
2 Acorus calamus
Linn
Vasambu Araceae Rhizome Rhizome made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the neck of new born
baby to get rid from evils
afflictions
3 Agave americana L Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
4 Agave angustifolia
Haw
Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
5 Alangium
hexapetalum Lam
Earualangi Alangiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
6 Alangium salvifolium
Linn
Alangal Alangiaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
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Reviews2151ndash66
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Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
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Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
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Mycology CABI PublishingNew
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Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
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Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
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Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
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endophyte symbiosis with
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Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
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Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
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Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
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Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
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Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
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Integrative and Comparative Biology
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Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
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distribution structural diversity
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526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
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Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
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Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
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Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
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Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
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New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
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2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
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Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
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Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
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Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
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Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
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Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Maistro EL Mota SF Lima EB Bernardes
BM Goulart FC (2010) Genotoxicity
and mutagenicity of Rosmarinus
officinalis (Labiatae) essential oil in
mammalian cells in vivo Genetics and
Molecular Research 9(4) 2113ndash2122
Martins MR Tinoco MT Almeida AS Cruz-
Morais J (2012) Chemical
Composition Antioxidant and
Antimicrobial properties of three
Essential oils from Portuguese Flora
Journal of Pharmacognosy 3(1) 39ndash44
Masuda T Inaba Y Takeda Y (2001)
Antioxidant mechanism of carnosic
acid structural identification of two
oxidation products J Agric Food
Chem 49 5560ndash5565
Matsuzaki Yusuke Toshiyuki Tsujisawa
Tatsuji Nishihara Mari Nakamura
Yasuaki Kakinoki (2013) Antifungal
activity of chemotype essential oils
from rosemary against Candida
albicans Open Journal of Stomatology
3 176ndash182
Mudasir A Tantry Syed Shabir Reehana Khan
Afsha Habib Seema Akbar (2012)
Determination of Essential Oil
Composition of Rosmarinus officinalis
Growing as Exotic species in Kashmir
Valley Chemistry of Natural
Compounds 47(6) 1012ndash1014
Mugnaini L Nardoni S Pinto L Pistelli L
Leonardi M Pisseri F Mancianti F
(2012) In vitro and in vivo antifungal
activity of some essential oils against
feline isolates of Microsporum canis
Journal de Mycologie Meacutedicale 22
179ndash184
Pino JA Estrarron M Fuentes V (1998)
Essential Oil of Rosemary (Rosmarinus
Officinalis L) from Cuba J Essent Oil
Res 10 111
Poeckel D Greiner C Verhoff M Rau O
Tausch L Heornig C Steinhilber D
Schubert-Zsilavecz M Werz O (2008)
Carnosic acid and carnosol potently
inhibit human 5-lipoxygenase and
suppress pro-inflammatory responses of
stimulated human polymorphonuclear
leukocytes Biochem Pharmacol 76
91ndash97
Prabuseenivasan S Jayakumar M Ignacimuthu
S (2006) In vitro antibacterial activity
of some plant essential oils BMC
Complement Altern Med 6 39
Reichling J Schnitzler P Suschke U Saller R
(2009) Essential oils of aromatic plants
with antibacterial antifungal antiviral
and cytotoxic properties-An overview
Forsch Komplementmed 16 79ndash90
Salido S Altarejos J Nogueras M Sanchez A
Luque P (2003) Chemical composition
and seasonal variations of rosemary oil
from Southern Spain Journal of
Essentials Oil Research 15 10ndash14
Santoyo S Cavero S Jaime L Ibanez E
Senorans FJ Reglero G (2005)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of Rosmarinus
officinalis L essential oil obtained via
supercritical fluid extraction Journal of
Food Protection 68(4) 790ndash795
Sienkiewicz M Kowalczyk E Wasiela M
(2012) Recent patents regarding
essential oils and the significance of
their constituents in human health and
treatment Recent Pat Anti Infect Drug
Discov 7 133ndash140
Sienkiewicz Monika Monika Lysakowska
Marta Pastuszka Wojciech Bienias
Edward Kowalczyk (2013) The
Potential of Use Basil and Rosemary
Essential Oils as Effective Antibacterial
Agents Molecules 18 9334ndash9351
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Sui Xiaoyu Tingting Liu Chunhui Ma Lei
Yang Yuangang Zu Lin Zhang Hua
Wang (2012) Microwave irradiation to
pretreat rosemary (Rosmarinus
officinalis L) for maintaining
antioxidant content during storage and
to extract essential oil simultaneously
Food Chemistry 131 1399ndash1405
Szumny Antoni Adam Figiel Antonio
Gutierrez-Ortiz Angel A Carbonell
Barrachina (2010) Composition of
rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus
officinalis) as affected by drying
method Journal of Food Engineering
97 253ndash260
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre
Chalard Gilles Figueredo (2013)
Characteristics of Essential oils of
Rosmarinus officinalis from eastern
Algeria Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med 2(12) 794ndash807
Varela F Navarrete P Cristobal R Fanlo M
Melero R Sotomayor J A (2009)
Variability in the chemical composition
of wild Rosmarinus officinalis L Acta
Horticulturae 826 167ndash174
Verma Ram S Laiqur Rahman Sunita Mishra
Rajesh K V Amit Chauhan Anand
Singh (2011) Changes in essential oil
content and composition of leaf and leaf
powder of Rosmarinus officinalis cv
CIM-Hariyali during storage Maejo Int
J Sci Technol 5(02) 181ndash190
Viuda-Martos M El Gendy A E-N G S
Sendra E Fernandez-Lopez J Abd El
Razik K A Omer E A Jose A Perez-
Alvarez (2010) Chemical composition
and antioxidant and anti-Listeria
activities of essential oils obtained from
some Egyptian plants Journal
Agriculture Food Chemistry 58(16)
9063ndash9070
Wang Wei Nan Li Meng Luo Yuangang Zu
Thomas Efferth (2012) Antibacterial
Activity and Anticancer Activity of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Compared to That of Its Main
Components Molecules 17 2704ndash
2713
Yang Jiang Nan Wu Yu-Jie Fu Wei Wang
Meng Luo Chun-Jian Zhao Yuan-
Gang Zu Xiao-Lei Liu (2011)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of the essential oil
of Rosemary Environmental
Toxicology and Pharmacology 32 63ndash
68
Zaouali Y Messaoud C BenSalah A Boussaid
M (2005) Oil composition variability
among populations in relationship with
their ecological areas in Tunisian
Rosmarinus officinalis L Flavour
Fragrance J 20 512ndash520
Source of Support Algerian MESRS and
Chemical Laboratory of carbohydrates
Heterocyclic of Clermont Ferrant France
Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS
SALEM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU INDIA
Rekha R
1 Senthil Kumar S
2
1 2PG and Research Department of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and Science for Women
(Autonomous) Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal(DT) Tamil Nadu India
Corresponding Author E- Mail rekha87rajagmailcom
Received 26042014 Revised 24052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
An ethno-botanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills Southern
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu India during November 2012ndashMarch 2014 This study
mainly focused on the plants used by the Malayali tribes for various purposes (Construction
materials house hold implements brushing fuel wood agriculture tools religious decorative to
ward off evil spirits) through standardized questionnaires interviews and discussions with very old
and knowledgeable tribals A total of 84 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 42 families were
recorded in the present study These extremely important plants should be taken into account and
steps have to be taken to increase their production for future benefit
KEY WORDS Yercaud hills Malayali tribes Ethno-botany
Research Article
Cite this article
Rekha R Senthil Kumar S (2014) ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS SALEM DISTRICT
TAMIL NADU INDIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 243ndash251
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
Plants are used against a number of
diseases by many indigenous communities in
traditional medicine plants are also used in
building materials fodder weapons and other
commodities of economical importance The
tribal people are economically backward ethnic
groups and constitute separate socio-cultural
groups Many local and indigenous
communities in Asian countries meet their
basic needs from the forest products they
manufacture and sell based on their traditional
knowledge (John Kennedy 2006) Yercaud
hills have been gifted with enormous number
of plant species Tribal people living in
Yercaud hills depend on these plants for their
survival These plants play a vital role in their
life as these people depend on the forest wealth
to meet their needs Their economic condition
is determined by these plants Yercaud hill
range is situated to the north-east part of
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu
India with rich vegetation and it covers an area
of 150 square miles (390 Sq km) It lies
between 11deg45rsquo56rdquo N latitude and 78deg17rsquo55rdquo E
longitude The temperature ranges from 13degC
to 29degC on the peaks and 25degC to 40degC at the
foot hills The average annual rainfall is around
1500ndash1750 mm The indigenous people
inhabiting Yercaud hill are called Malayali the
oldest group of the branch of the ethnic group
in South India Malayali simply means a hill
person an appellation distinguishing them from
the people of plains In physical appearance
they scarcely differ from the people of plains
They speak Tamil dialect of their own They
are supposed to be descendants of
Kanchipuram vellalar They appear to have
migrated from Kanchipuram (a town near
Chennai Tamil Nadu India) between seventh
and eleventh centuries The tribals are mostly
working as casual laborers in coffee estates
They are cultivating food grains fruits and
vegetable (Alagesaboopathi et al 1996)
Malayali tribals use more number of plants for
various purposes like for making construction
materials house hold implements brushing
plants fuel wood agriculture tools religious
decorative to ward off evil spirits etc This
study enumerates such useful plants which are
used by Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills
Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu India
Data Collection
Frequent field surveys were carried out in
Yercaud hills in different seasons during
November 2012ndashMarch 2014 Information on the plants was collected through personal
interview with village headman farmers and
other knowledgeable tribals The interviews
were conducted in the local language (Tamil)
the information includes local names plant
parts used and method of utilization was
gathered from them with regard to each plant
The collected information was recorded on
field note books and plants were identified
using the Flora of the Presidency of Madras
(Gamble 1935) and Flora of Tamil Nadu-
Carnatic (Matthew 1983) Plant specimens
were deposited for future references in the
Botany department Vivekanandha College of
Arts and Sciences for women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal
(DT) Tamil Nadu India
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The present study focused mainly on the
role of non timber forest products in the
livelihood of Malayali tribes of Yercaud hills
Salem district Tamil Nadu India During the
study period 84 plant species belonging to 70
genera and 42 families were identified to be
utilized by Malayali tribes (Table 1) The
reported plants were arranged to their
Botanical Name Vernacular name as recorded
during field work habit and uses Plants
utilized by Malayali tribes can be classified
under various categories like fuel wood plants
house construction and house hold implements
agriculture tools religious importance plants
plants used to ward off evil afflictions hair
care and toothbrush The plants listed mainly
belong to Rubiaceae (6 species) followed by
Fabaceae and Moraceae (5 species)
Mimosaceae Rutaceae and Poaceae (4
species) Combretaceae Anacardiaceae
Euphorbiaceae Apocynaceae (3 species)
Asparagaceae Alangiaceae Asclepidaceae
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Meliaceae Caesalpiniaceae Verbenaceae
Arecaceae Ebenaceae Lamiaceae Tiliaceae
Myrtaceae and Dipterocarpaceae (2 species)
Araceae Acanthaceae Annonaceae
Papaveraceae Bambusaceae Borangiaceae
Cyperaceae Droseraceae Proteaceae
Convolvulaceae Gyrocarpeaceae Ulmaceae
Malvaceae Lythraceae Nyctaginaceae
Moringaceae Salicaceae Araliaceae
Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species) From
the study it was observed that 51 taxa are trees
(60) 23 taxa are herbs (20) and 10 taxa are
shrub (12)
Fire wood plants
One of the most important non timber
forest products for daily life is fuel wood the
only means of energy source of Malayali
tribes The fuel wood species are collected
from the forest near to the hamlets The species
preferred for fire wood to their comfortable
availability and inflammability According to
Malayali tribes which are not considered as a
source of good timber are treated as fire wood
The fire wood utilized by Malayali tribes
belong to 15 species 15 genera and 10
families they are Albizzia lebbeck Benth
Bauhinia tomentosa L Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb Chomelia astiactica OKze
Diospyros montana Roxb Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq Holopetela integrifolia
(Roxb) Planch Mallotus philippensis M Arg
Moringa oleifera Lamk Plectronia didyma
Kurz Salix tetrasperma Roxb Shorea robusta
Roth Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels Terminalia
bellerica Roxb and Zanthoxylum budrunga
Wall
House construction and house hold
implements
Malayali tribes have good Knowledge to
use natural resources specifically plants for
their day-to-day life Malayali tribes use
Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq leaves to make
meal plate Phoenix sylverstris Roxb leaves to
make broom stick Cyperus rotundus L
Ophiuros exalatus OKtz Oryza sativa L
Sorghum vulgare L are used for roofing and
thatching Mature stem of Cassia fistula Linn
Chloroxylon swietenia DC Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl and Terminalia
chebula Retz were used to make pounder
Mature stem of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam is
used to make churn-staff woody stem of
Mangifera indica L is used to make wood
grinder leaves of Cassia fistula Linn is used
for ripening of fruits Gmelina arborea Roxb
mature stem is used as a stick for musical
instrument the fibers from the leaf fibers of
Agave americana L and Agave angustifolia
Haw are used for making coir the culm of
Bambusa arundinacea Willd is used for
making various types of baskets leaves of
Corypha umbracalifer L is used for making
baskets and decoration in ceremonies
Wood forms an important construction
material for houses cattle sheds and temporary
settlements in the area Windows doors and
cots were chiefly made up of Albizia
odoratissima Benth Cleistanthus Collins
Benth Cordia wallichii G Don Dalberiga
lanceolaria L Diospyros edenum JKoeing
Gardenia resinifera Roth Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br Melia composite Willd
Shorea roxburghii Roxb Tectona grandis
Linn Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall and
Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk
Agricultural implements
For making agricultural implements four
species were used such as Chloroxylon
swietenia DC and Bumbusa arundinacea Willd
were used for making handle of axe and woody
stem of Anogeissus latifolia Wall and Tectona
grandis Linn is made in the shape of a harrow
by Malayali tribes
Plants used for Religious purposes
Ceremonial plant use is of principal
importance in daily Malayali tribe life and
many species have a specific ceremonial
significance generally associated with
blessings age-rites and witchcraft Some plants
are used as offerings to god among these tribes
Asclepias curassavica L Cassia montana
Heyne Clerodendrum serratum L and
Plumeria rubra L flowers are used in religious
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
practice to worship God Holarrhena
pubescens (Buch-Ham) WallexGDon
Wrightia tinctoria RBr mature stem are used
in all traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions
Malayali tribes believe that some of the
plants bring good fortune and keep off evil
spirits The exudates of Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb and Semecarpus
anacardium L are used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect them from evils
afflictions brush body with leaves and root of
Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake
bite brush body with leaves of Schefflera
racemosa Harms protect from evils afflictions
roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Aitf is
stitched together and then worn around the hip
to protect from evils afflictions rhizome of the
Acorus calamus Linn is made into pieces and
stitched together and worn around the neck of a
new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions
Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate
sexual desire ie Abrus pulchellus Wall
Alangium hexapetalum Lam Canthium
parviflorum Lam Drosera indica L Evolvulus
alsinoides Linn Ficus bengalensis Linn
Grewia tenax (forssk) fiori Mimosa pudica
Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn Ocimum canum
Sims and Randia dumetorum Lam
Plants used as Toothbrush
Malayali tribals generally use the young
twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn
Azadirachta indica AJuss Ficus glomerata
Roxb Ficus religosa Linn Jatropha curcas L
and Psidium guajava Linn areial root of Ficus
benghalensis Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn
rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula Retz
fruit powder are used as tooth powder
Plants used in Hair Nourishment
Heredity older age lack of nutrition
infections (such as worms lice scabies
dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic
products (soaps shampoos and hair oils) may
cause hair loss dandruff discoloration of hairs
Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant
resources for hair disorders For example
Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a
shampoo seeds of Argemone mexicana root of
Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening
the hairs flowers of Annona squamosa amp fruit
of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff
and kill lice whole plant parts of Andrographis
echioides flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia
calendulacea prevented hair loss
Table 1 List of plants used by Malayali Tribal people for NTFP in Yercaud hills
S
No
Botanical Name Vernacular Name
(Tamil)
Family Parts used Purposes
1 Abrus pulchellus
Wall
Vellaikuntumani Fabaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
2 Acorus calamus
Linn
Vasambu Araceae Rhizome Rhizome made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the neck of new born
baby to get rid from evils
afflictions
3 Agave americana L Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
4 Agave angustifolia
Haw
Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
5 Alangium
hexapetalum Lam
Earualangi Alangiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
6 Alangium salvifolium
Linn
Alangal Alangiaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
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of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
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function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
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Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
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526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
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Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 232ndash242
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Sui Xiaoyu Tingting Liu Chunhui Ma Lei
Yang Yuangang Zu Lin Zhang Hua
Wang (2012) Microwave irradiation to
pretreat rosemary (Rosmarinus
officinalis L) for maintaining
antioxidant content during storage and
to extract essential oil simultaneously
Food Chemistry 131 1399ndash1405
Szumny Antoni Adam Figiel Antonio
Gutierrez-Ortiz Angel A Carbonell
Barrachina (2010) Composition of
rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus
officinalis) as affected by drying
method Journal of Food Engineering
97 253ndash260
Takia Lograda Messaoud Ramdani Pierre
Chalard Gilles Figueredo (2013)
Characteristics of Essential oils of
Rosmarinus officinalis from eastern
Algeria Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med 2(12) 794ndash807
Varela F Navarrete P Cristobal R Fanlo M
Melero R Sotomayor J A (2009)
Variability in the chemical composition
of wild Rosmarinus officinalis L Acta
Horticulturae 826 167ndash174
Verma Ram S Laiqur Rahman Sunita Mishra
Rajesh K V Amit Chauhan Anand
Singh (2011) Changes in essential oil
content and composition of leaf and leaf
powder of Rosmarinus officinalis cv
CIM-Hariyali during storage Maejo Int
J Sci Technol 5(02) 181ndash190
Viuda-Martos M El Gendy A E-N G S
Sendra E Fernandez-Lopez J Abd El
Razik K A Omer E A Jose A Perez-
Alvarez (2010) Chemical composition
and antioxidant and anti-Listeria
activities of essential oils obtained from
some Egyptian plants Journal
Agriculture Food Chemistry 58(16)
9063ndash9070
Wang Wei Nan Li Meng Luo Yuangang Zu
Thomas Efferth (2012) Antibacterial
Activity and Anticancer Activity of
Rosmarinus officinalis L Essential Oil
Compared to That of Its Main
Components Molecules 17 2704ndash
2713
Yang Jiang Nan Wu Yu-Jie Fu Wei Wang
Meng Luo Chun-Jian Zhao Yuan-
Gang Zu Xiao-Lei Liu (2011)
Chemical composition and
antimicrobial activity of the essential oil
of Rosemary Environmental
Toxicology and Pharmacology 32 63ndash
68
Zaouali Y Messaoud C BenSalah A Boussaid
M (2005) Oil composition variability
among populations in relationship with
their ecological areas in Tunisian
Rosmarinus officinalis L Flavour
Fragrance J 20 512ndash520
Source of Support Algerian MESRS and
Chemical Laboratory of carbohydrates
Heterocyclic of Clermont Ferrant France
Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS
SALEM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU INDIA
Rekha R
1 Senthil Kumar S
2
1 2PG and Research Department of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and Science for Women
(Autonomous) Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal(DT) Tamil Nadu India
Corresponding Author E- Mail rekha87rajagmailcom
Received 26042014 Revised 24052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
An ethno-botanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills Southern
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu India during November 2012ndashMarch 2014 This study
mainly focused on the plants used by the Malayali tribes for various purposes (Construction
materials house hold implements brushing fuel wood agriculture tools religious decorative to
ward off evil spirits) through standardized questionnaires interviews and discussions with very old
and knowledgeable tribals A total of 84 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 42 families were
recorded in the present study These extremely important plants should be taken into account and
steps have to be taken to increase their production for future benefit
KEY WORDS Yercaud hills Malayali tribes Ethno-botany
Research Article
Cite this article
Rekha R Senthil Kumar S (2014) ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS SALEM DISTRICT
TAMIL NADU INDIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 243ndash251
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
Plants are used against a number of
diseases by many indigenous communities in
traditional medicine plants are also used in
building materials fodder weapons and other
commodities of economical importance The
tribal people are economically backward ethnic
groups and constitute separate socio-cultural
groups Many local and indigenous
communities in Asian countries meet their
basic needs from the forest products they
manufacture and sell based on their traditional
knowledge (John Kennedy 2006) Yercaud
hills have been gifted with enormous number
of plant species Tribal people living in
Yercaud hills depend on these plants for their
survival These plants play a vital role in their
life as these people depend on the forest wealth
to meet their needs Their economic condition
is determined by these plants Yercaud hill
range is situated to the north-east part of
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu
India with rich vegetation and it covers an area
of 150 square miles (390 Sq km) It lies
between 11deg45rsquo56rdquo N latitude and 78deg17rsquo55rdquo E
longitude The temperature ranges from 13degC
to 29degC on the peaks and 25degC to 40degC at the
foot hills The average annual rainfall is around
1500ndash1750 mm The indigenous people
inhabiting Yercaud hill are called Malayali the
oldest group of the branch of the ethnic group
in South India Malayali simply means a hill
person an appellation distinguishing them from
the people of plains In physical appearance
they scarcely differ from the people of plains
They speak Tamil dialect of their own They
are supposed to be descendants of
Kanchipuram vellalar They appear to have
migrated from Kanchipuram (a town near
Chennai Tamil Nadu India) between seventh
and eleventh centuries The tribals are mostly
working as casual laborers in coffee estates
They are cultivating food grains fruits and
vegetable (Alagesaboopathi et al 1996)
Malayali tribals use more number of plants for
various purposes like for making construction
materials house hold implements brushing
plants fuel wood agriculture tools religious
decorative to ward off evil spirits etc This
study enumerates such useful plants which are
used by Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills
Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu India
Data Collection
Frequent field surveys were carried out in
Yercaud hills in different seasons during
November 2012ndashMarch 2014 Information on the plants was collected through personal
interview with village headman farmers and
other knowledgeable tribals The interviews
were conducted in the local language (Tamil)
the information includes local names plant
parts used and method of utilization was
gathered from them with regard to each plant
The collected information was recorded on
field note books and plants were identified
using the Flora of the Presidency of Madras
(Gamble 1935) and Flora of Tamil Nadu-
Carnatic (Matthew 1983) Plant specimens
were deposited for future references in the
Botany department Vivekanandha College of
Arts and Sciences for women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal
(DT) Tamil Nadu India
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The present study focused mainly on the
role of non timber forest products in the
livelihood of Malayali tribes of Yercaud hills
Salem district Tamil Nadu India During the
study period 84 plant species belonging to 70
genera and 42 families were identified to be
utilized by Malayali tribes (Table 1) The
reported plants were arranged to their
Botanical Name Vernacular name as recorded
during field work habit and uses Plants
utilized by Malayali tribes can be classified
under various categories like fuel wood plants
house construction and house hold implements
agriculture tools religious importance plants
plants used to ward off evil afflictions hair
care and toothbrush The plants listed mainly
belong to Rubiaceae (6 species) followed by
Fabaceae and Moraceae (5 species)
Mimosaceae Rutaceae and Poaceae (4
species) Combretaceae Anacardiaceae
Euphorbiaceae Apocynaceae (3 species)
Asparagaceae Alangiaceae Asclepidaceae
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Meliaceae Caesalpiniaceae Verbenaceae
Arecaceae Ebenaceae Lamiaceae Tiliaceae
Myrtaceae and Dipterocarpaceae (2 species)
Araceae Acanthaceae Annonaceae
Papaveraceae Bambusaceae Borangiaceae
Cyperaceae Droseraceae Proteaceae
Convolvulaceae Gyrocarpeaceae Ulmaceae
Malvaceae Lythraceae Nyctaginaceae
Moringaceae Salicaceae Araliaceae
Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species) From
the study it was observed that 51 taxa are trees
(60) 23 taxa are herbs (20) and 10 taxa are
shrub (12)
Fire wood plants
One of the most important non timber
forest products for daily life is fuel wood the
only means of energy source of Malayali
tribes The fuel wood species are collected
from the forest near to the hamlets The species
preferred for fire wood to their comfortable
availability and inflammability According to
Malayali tribes which are not considered as a
source of good timber are treated as fire wood
The fire wood utilized by Malayali tribes
belong to 15 species 15 genera and 10
families they are Albizzia lebbeck Benth
Bauhinia tomentosa L Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb Chomelia astiactica OKze
Diospyros montana Roxb Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq Holopetela integrifolia
(Roxb) Planch Mallotus philippensis M Arg
Moringa oleifera Lamk Plectronia didyma
Kurz Salix tetrasperma Roxb Shorea robusta
Roth Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels Terminalia
bellerica Roxb and Zanthoxylum budrunga
Wall
House construction and house hold
implements
Malayali tribes have good Knowledge to
use natural resources specifically plants for
their day-to-day life Malayali tribes use
Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq leaves to make
meal plate Phoenix sylverstris Roxb leaves to
make broom stick Cyperus rotundus L
Ophiuros exalatus OKtz Oryza sativa L
Sorghum vulgare L are used for roofing and
thatching Mature stem of Cassia fistula Linn
Chloroxylon swietenia DC Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl and Terminalia
chebula Retz were used to make pounder
Mature stem of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam is
used to make churn-staff woody stem of
Mangifera indica L is used to make wood
grinder leaves of Cassia fistula Linn is used
for ripening of fruits Gmelina arborea Roxb
mature stem is used as a stick for musical
instrument the fibers from the leaf fibers of
Agave americana L and Agave angustifolia
Haw are used for making coir the culm of
Bambusa arundinacea Willd is used for
making various types of baskets leaves of
Corypha umbracalifer L is used for making
baskets and decoration in ceremonies
Wood forms an important construction
material for houses cattle sheds and temporary
settlements in the area Windows doors and
cots were chiefly made up of Albizia
odoratissima Benth Cleistanthus Collins
Benth Cordia wallichii G Don Dalberiga
lanceolaria L Diospyros edenum JKoeing
Gardenia resinifera Roth Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br Melia composite Willd
Shorea roxburghii Roxb Tectona grandis
Linn Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall and
Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk
Agricultural implements
For making agricultural implements four
species were used such as Chloroxylon
swietenia DC and Bumbusa arundinacea Willd
were used for making handle of axe and woody
stem of Anogeissus latifolia Wall and Tectona
grandis Linn is made in the shape of a harrow
by Malayali tribes
Plants used for Religious purposes
Ceremonial plant use is of principal
importance in daily Malayali tribe life and
many species have a specific ceremonial
significance generally associated with
blessings age-rites and witchcraft Some plants
are used as offerings to god among these tribes
Asclepias curassavica L Cassia montana
Heyne Clerodendrum serratum L and
Plumeria rubra L flowers are used in religious
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
practice to worship God Holarrhena
pubescens (Buch-Ham) WallexGDon
Wrightia tinctoria RBr mature stem are used
in all traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions
Malayali tribes believe that some of the
plants bring good fortune and keep off evil
spirits The exudates of Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb and Semecarpus
anacardium L are used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect them from evils
afflictions brush body with leaves and root of
Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake
bite brush body with leaves of Schefflera
racemosa Harms protect from evils afflictions
roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Aitf is
stitched together and then worn around the hip
to protect from evils afflictions rhizome of the
Acorus calamus Linn is made into pieces and
stitched together and worn around the neck of a
new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions
Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate
sexual desire ie Abrus pulchellus Wall
Alangium hexapetalum Lam Canthium
parviflorum Lam Drosera indica L Evolvulus
alsinoides Linn Ficus bengalensis Linn
Grewia tenax (forssk) fiori Mimosa pudica
Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn Ocimum canum
Sims and Randia dumetorum Lam
Plants used as Toothbrush
Malayali tribals generally use the young
twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn
Azadirachta indica AJuss Ficus glomerata
Roxb Ficus religosa Linn Jatropha curcas L
and Psidium guajava Linn areial root of Ficus
benghalensis Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn
rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula Retz
fruit powder are used as tooth powder
Plants used in Hair Nourishment
Heredity older age lack of nutrition
infections (such as worms lice scabies
dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic
products (soaps shampoos and hair oils) may
cause hair loss dandruff discoloration of hairs
Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant
resources for hair disorders For example
Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a
shampoo seeds of Argemone mexicana root of
Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening
the hairs flowers of Annona squamosa amp fruit
of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff
and kill lice whole plant parts of Andrographis
echioides flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia
calendulacea prevented hair loss
Table 1 List of plants used by Malayali Tribal people for NTFP in Yercaud hills
S
No
Botanical Name Vernacular Name
(Tamil)
Family Parts used Purposes
1 Abrus pulchellus
Wall
Vellaikuntumani Fabaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
2 Acorus calamus
Linn
Vasambu Araceae Rhizome Rhizome made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the neck of new born
baby to get rid from evils
afflictions
3 Agave americana L Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
4 Agave angustifolia
Haw
Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
5 Alangium
hexapetalum Lam
Earualangi Alangiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
6 Alangium salvifolium
Linn
Alangal Alangiaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
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function of the fungus in the seedling and
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Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
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Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
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metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
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Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
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Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
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Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
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Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
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109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
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Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
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Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
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Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
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1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
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Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
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and blue mold disease protection by
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plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS
SALEM DISTRICT TAMIL NADU INDIA
Rekha R
1 Senthil Kumar S
2
1 2PG and Research Department of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and Science for Women
(Autonomous) Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal(DT) Tamil Nadu India
Corresponding Author E- Mail rekha87rajagmailcom
Received 26042014 Revised 24052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
An ethno-botanical survey was carried out among the Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills Southern
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu India during November 2012ndashMarch 2014 This study
mainly focused on the plants used by the Malayali tribes for various purposes (Construction
materials house hold implements brushing fuel wood agriculture tools religious decorative to
ward off evil spirits) through standardized questionnaires interviews and discussions with very old
and knowledgeable tribals A total of 84 plant species belonging to 70 genera and 42 families were
recorded in the present study These extremely important plants should be taken into account and
steps have to be taken to increase their production for future benefit
KEY WORDS Yercaud hills Malayali tribes Ethno-botany
Research Article
Cite this article
Rekha R Senthil Kumar S (2014) ETHNOBOTANICAL PLANTS USED BY THE
MALAYALI TRIBES IN YERCAUD HILLS OF EASTERN GHATS SALEM DISTRICT
TAMIL NADU INDIA Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 243ndash251
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
Plants are used against a number of
diseases by many indigenous communities in
traditional medicine plants are also used in
building materials fodder weapons and other
commodities of economical importance The
tribal people are economically backward ethnic
groups and constitute separate socio-cultural
groups Many local and indigenous
communities in Asian countries meet their
basic needs from the forest products they
manufacture and sell based on their traditional
knowledge (John Kennedy 2006) Yercaud
hills have been gifted with enormous number
of plant species Tribal people living in
Yercaud hills depend on these plants for their
survival These plants play a vital role in their
life as these people depend on the forest wealth
to meet their needs Their economic condition
is determined by these plants Yercaud hill
range is situated to the north-east part of
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu
India with rich vegetation and it covers an area
of 150 square miles (390 Sq km) It lies
between 11deg45rsquo56rdquo N latitude and 78deg17rsquo55rdquo E
longitude The temperature ranges from 13degC
to 29degC on the peaks and 25degC to 40degC at the
foot hills The average annual rainfall is around
1500ndash1750 mm The indigenous people
inhabiting Yercaud hill are called Malayali the
oldest group of the branch of the ethnic group
in South India Malayali simply means a hill
person an appellation distinguishing them from
the people of plains In physical appearance
they scarcely differ from the people of plains
They speak Tamil dialect of their own They
are supposed to be descendants of
Kanchipuram vellalar They appear to have
migrated from Kanchipuram (a town near
Chennai Tamil Nadu India) between seventh
and eleventh centuries The tribals are mostly
working as casual laborers in coffee estates
They are cultivating food grains fruits and
vegetable (Alagesaboopathi et al 1996)
Malayali tribals use more number of plants for
various purposes like for making construction
materials house hold implements brushing
plants fuel wood agriculture tools religious
decorative to ward off evil spirits etc This
study enumerates such useful plants which are
used by Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills
Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu India
Data Collection
Frequent field surveys were carried out in
Yercaud hills in different seasons during
November 2012ndashMarch 2014 Information on the plants was collected through personal
interview with village headman farmers and
other knowledgeable tribals The interviews
were conducted in the local language (Tamil)
the information includes local names plant
parts used and method of utilization was
gathered from them with regard to each plant
The collected information was recorded on
field note books and plants were identified
using the Flora of the Presidency of Madras
(Gamble 1935) and Flora of Tamil Nadu-
Carnatic (Matthew 1983) Plant specimens
were deposited for future references in the
Botany department Vivekanandha College of
Arts and Sciences for women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal
(DT) Tamil Nadu India
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The present study focused mainly on the
role of non timber forest products in the
livelihood of Malayali tribes of Yercaud hills
Salem district Tamil Nadu India During the
study period 84 plant species belonging to 70
genera and 42 families were identified to be
utilized by Malayali tribes (Table 1) The
reported plants were arranged to their
Botanical Name Vernacular name as recorded
during field work habit and uses Plants
utilized by Malayali tribes can be classified
under various categories like fuel wood plants
house construction and house hold implements
agriculture tools religious importance plants
plants used to ward off evil afflictions hair
care and toothbrush The plants listed mainly
belong to Rubiaceae (6 species) followed by
Fabaceae and Moraceae (5 species)
Mimosaceae Rutaceae and Poaceae (4
species) Combretaceae Anacardiaceae
Euphorbiaceae Apocynaceae (3 species)
Asparagaceae Alangiaceae Asclepidaceae
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Meliaceae Caesalpiniaceae Verbenaceae
Arecaceae Ebenaceae Lamiaceae Tiliaceae
Myrtaceae and Dipterocarpaceae (2 species)
Araceae Acanthaceae Annonaceae
Papaveraceae Bambusaceae Borangiaceae
Cyperaceae Droseraceae Proteaceae
Convolvulaceae Gyrocarpeaceae Ulmaceae
Malvaceae Lythraceae Nyctaginaceae
Moringaceae Salicaceae Araliaceae
Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species) From
the study it was observed that 51 taxa are trees
(60) 23 taxa are herbs (20) and 10 taxa are
shrub (12)
Fire wood plants
One of the most important non timber
forest products for daily life is fuel wood the
only means of energy source of Malayali
tribes The fuel wood species are collected
from the forest near to the hamlets The species
preferred for fire wood to their comfortable
availability and inflammability According to
Malayali tribes which are not considered as a
source of good timber are treated as fire wood
The fire wood utilized by Malayali tribes
belong to 15 species 15 genera and 10
families they are Albizzia lebbeck Benth
Bauhinia tomentosa L Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb Chomelia astiactica OKze
Diospyros montana Roxb Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq Holopetela integrifolia
(Roxb) Planch Mallotus philippensis M Arg
Moringa oleifera Lamk Plectronia didyma
Kurz Salix tetrasperma Roxb Shorea robusta
Roth Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels Terminalia
bellerica Roxb and Zanthoxylum budrunga
Wall
House construction and house hold
implements
Malayali tribes have good Knowledge to
use natural resources specifically plants for
their day-to-day life Malayali tribes use
Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq leaves to make
meal plate Phoenix sylverstris Roxb leaves to
make broom stick Cyperus rotundus L
Ophiuros exalatus OKtz Oryza sativa L
Sorghum vulgare L are used for roofing and
thatching Mature stem of Cassia fistula Linn
Chloroxylon swietenia DC Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl and Terminalia
chebula Retz were used to make pounder
Mature stem of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam is
used to make churn-staff woody stem of
Mangifera indica L is used to make wood
grinder leaves of Cassia fistula Linn is used
for ripening of fruits Gmelina arborea Roxb
mature stem is used as a stick for musical
instrument the fibers from the leaf fibers of
Agave americana L and Agave angustifolia
Haw are used for making coir the culm of
Bambusa arundinacea Willd is used for
making various types of baskets leaves of
Corypha umbracalifer L is used for making
baskets and decoration in ceremonies
Wood forms an important construction
material for houses cattle sheds and temporary
settlements in the area Windows doors and
cots were chiefly made up of Albizia
odoratissima Benth Cleistanthus Collins
Benth Cordia wallichii G Don Dalberiga
lanceolaria L Diospyros edenum JKoeing
Gardenia resinifera Roth Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br Melia composite Willd
Shorea roxburghii Roxb Tectona grandis
Linn Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall and
Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk
Agricultural implements
For making agricultural implements four
species were used such as Chloroxylon
swietenia DC and Bumbusa arundinacea Willd
were used for making handle of axe and woody
stem of Anogeissus latifolia Wall and Tectona
grandis Linn is made in the shape of a harrow
by Malayali tribes
Plants used for Religious purposes
Ceremonial plant use is of principal
importance in daily Malayali tribe life and
many species have a specific ceremonial
significance generally associated with
blessings age-rites and witchcraft Some plants
are used as offerings to god among these tribes
Asclepias curassavica L Cassia montana
Heyne Clerodendrum serratum L and
Plumeria rubra L flowers are used in religious
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
practice to worship God Holarrhena
pubescens (Buch-Ham) WallexGDon
Wrightia tinctoria RBr mature stem are used
in all traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions
Malayali tribes believe that some of the
plants bring good fortune and keep off evil
spirits The exudates of Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb and Semecarpus
anacardium L are used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect them from evils
afflictions brush body with leaves and root of
Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake
bite brush body with leaves of Schefflera
racemosa Harms protect from evils afflictions
roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Aitf is
stitched together and then worn around the hip
to protect from evils afflictions rhizome of the
Acorus calamus Linn is made into pieces and
stitched together and worn around the neck of a
new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions
Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate
sexual desire ie Abrus pulchellus Wall
Alangium hexapetalum Lam Canthium
parviflorum Lam Drosera indica L Evolvulus
alsinoides Linn Ficus bengalensis Linn
Grewia tenax (forssk) fiori Mimosa pudica
Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn Ocimum canum
Sims and Randia dumetorum Lam
Plants used as Toothbrush
Malayali tribals generally use the young
twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn
Azadirachta indica AJuss Ficus glomerata
Roxb Ficus religosa Linn Jatropha curcas L
and Psidium guajava Linn areial root of Ficus
benghalensis Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn
rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula Retz
fruit powder are used as tooth powder
Plants used in Hair Nourishment
Heredity older age lack of nutrition
infections (such as worms lice scabies
dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic
products (soaps shampoos and hair oils) may
cause hair loss dandruff discoloration of hairs
Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant
resources for hair disorders For example
Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a
shampoo seeds of Argemone mexicana root of
Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening
the hairs flowers of Annona squamosa amp fruit
of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff
and kill lice whole plant parts of Andrographis
echioides flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia
calendulacea prevented hair loss
Table 1 List of plants used by Malayali Tribal people for NTFP in Yercaud hills
S
No
Botanical Name Vernacular Name
(Tamil)
Family Parts used Purposes
1 Abrus pulchellus
Wall
Vellaikuntumani Fabaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
2 Acorus calamus
Linn
Vasambu Araceae Rhizome Rhizome made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the neck of new born
baby to get rid from evils
afflictions
3 Agave americana L Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
4 Agave angustifolia
Haw
Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
5 Alangium
hexapetalum Lam
Earualangi Alangiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
6 Alangium salvifolium
Linn
Alangal Alangiaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
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need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
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were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
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have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
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some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
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Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
Arnold AE (2007) Understanding the diversity
of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
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Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
Plants are used against a number of
diseases by many indigenous communities in
traditional medicine plants are also used in
building materials fodder weapons and other
commodities of economical importance The
tribal people are economically backward ethnic
groups and constitute separate socio-cultural
groups Many local and indigenous
communities in Asian countries meet their
basic needs from the forest products they
manufacture and sell based on their traditional
knowledge (John Kennedy 2006) Yercaud
hills have been gifted with enormous number
of plant species Tribal people living in
Yercaud hills depend on these plants for their
survival These plants play a vital role in their
life as these people depend on the forest wealth
to meet their needs Their economic condition
is determined by these plants Yercaud hill
range is situated to the north-east part of
Eastern Ghats Salem district Tamil Nadu
India with rich vegetation and it covers an area
of 150 square miles (390 Sq km) It lies
between 11deg45rsquo56rdquo N latitude and 78deg17rsquo55rdquo E
longitude The temperature ranges from 13degC
to 29degC on the peaks and 25degC to 40degC at the
foot hills The average annual rainfall is around
1500ndash1750 mm The indigenous people
inhabiting Yercaud hill are called Malayali the
oldest group of the branch of the ethnic group
in South India Malayali simply means a hill
person an appellation distinguishing them from
the people of plains In physical appearance
they scarcely differ from the people of plains
They speak Tamil dialect of their own They
are supposed to be descendants of
Kanchipuram vellalar They appear to have
migrated from Kanchipuram (a town near
Chennai Tamil Nadu India) between seventh
and eleventh centuries The tribals are mostly
working as casual laborers in coffee estates
They are cultivating food grains fruits and
vegetable (Alagesaboopathi et al 1996)
Malayali tribals use more number of plants for
various purposes like for making construction
materials house hold implements brushing
plants fuel wood agriculture tools religious
decorative to ward off evil spirits etc This
study enumerates such useful plants which are
used by Malayali tribals in Yercaud Hills
Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu India
Data Collection
Frequent field surveys were carried out in
Yercaud hills in different seasons during
November 2012ndashMarch 2014 Information on the plants was collected through personal
interview with village headman farmers and
other knowledgeable tribals The interviews
were conducted in the local language (Tamil)
the information includes local names plant
parts used and method of utilization was
gathered from them with regard to each plant
The collected information was recorded on
field note books and plants were identified
using the Flora of the Presidency of Madras
(Gamble 1935) and Flora of Tamil Nadu-
Carnatic (Matthew 1983) Plant specimens
were deposited for future references in the
Botany department Vivekanandha College of
Arts and Sciences for women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam Tiruchengode Namakkal
(DT) Tamil Nadu India
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The present study focused mainly on the
role of non timber forest products in the
livelihood of Malayali tribes of Yercaud hills
Salem district Tamil Nadu India During the
study period 84 plant species belonging to 70
genera and 42 families were identified to be
utilized by Malayali tribes (Table 1) The
reported plants were arranged to their
Botanical Name Vernacular name as recorded
during field work habit and uses Plants
utilized by Malayali tribes can be classified
under various categories like fuel wood plants
house construction and house hold implements
agriculture tools religious importance plants
plants used to ward off evil afflictions hair
care and toothbrush The plants listed mainly
belong to Rubiaceae (6 species) followed by
Fabaceae and Moraceae (5 species)
Mimosaceae Rutaceae and Poaceae (4
species) Combretaceae Anacardiaceae
Euphorbiaceae Apocynaceae (3 species)
Asparagaceae Alangiaceae Asclepidaceae
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Meliaceae Caesalpiniaceae Verbenaceae
Arecaceae Ebenaceae Lamiaceae Tiliaceae
Myrtaceae and Dipterocarpaceae (2 species)
Araceae Acanthaceae Annonaceae
Papaveraceae Bambusaceae Borangiaceae
Cyperaceae Droseraceae Proteaceae
Convolvulaceae Gyrocarpeaceae Ulmaceae
Malvaceae Lythraceae Nyctaginaceae
Moringaceae Salicaceae Araliaceae
Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species) From
the study it was observed that 51 taxa are trees
(60) 23 taxa are herbs (20) and 10 taxa are
shrub (12)
Fire wood plants
One of the most important non timber
forest products for daily life is fuel wood the
only means of energy source of Malayali
tribes The fuel wood species are collected
from the forest near to the hamlets The species
preferred for fire wood to their comfortable
availability and inflammability According to
Malayali tribes which are not considered as a
source of good timber are treated as fire wood
The fire wood utilized by Malayali tribes
belong to 15 species 15 genera and 10
families they are Albizzia lebbeck Benth
Bauhinia tomentosa L Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb Chomelia astiactica OKze
Diospyros montana Roxb Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq Holopetela integrifolia
(Roxb) Planch Mallotus philippensis M Arg
Moringa oleifera Lamk Plectronia didyma
Kurz Salix tetrasperma Roxb Shorea robusta
Roth Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels Terminalia
bellerica Roxb and Zanthoxylum budrunga
Wall
House construction and house hold
implements
Malayali tribes have good Knowledge to
use natural resources specifically plants for
their day-to-day life Malayali tribes use
Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq leaves to make
meal plate Phoenix sylverstris Roxb leaves to
make broom stick Cyperus rotundus L
Ophiuros exalatus OKtz Oryza sativa L
Sorghum vulgare L are used for roofing and
thatching Mature stem of Cassia fistula Linn
Chloroxylon swietenia DC Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl and Terminalia
chebula Retz were used to make pounder
Mature stem of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam is
used to make churn-staff woody stem of
Mangifera indica L is used to make wood
grinder leaves of Cassia fistula Linn is used
for ripening of fruits Gmelina arborea Roxb
mature stem is used as a stick for musical
instrument the fibers from the leaf fibers of
Agave americana L and Agave angustifolia
Haw are used for making coir the culm of
Bambusa arundinacea Willd is used for
making various types of baskets leaves of
Corypha umbracalifer L is used for making
baskets and decoration in ceremonies
Wood forms an important construction
material for houses cattle sheds and temporary
settlements in the area Windows doors and
cots were chiefly made up of Albizia
odoratissima Benth Cleistanthus Collins
Benth Cordia wallichii G Don Dalberiga
lanceolaria L Diospyros edenum JKoeing
Gardenia resinifera Roth Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br Melia composite Willd
Shorea roxburghii Roxb Tectona grandis
Linn Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall and
Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk
Agricultural implements
For making agricultural implements four
species were used such as Chloroxylon
swietenia DC and Bumbusa arundinacea Willd
were used for making handle of axe and woody
stem of Anogeissus latifolia Wall and Tectona
grandis Linn is made in the shape of a harrow
by Malayali tribes
Plants used for Religious purposes
Ceremonial plant use is of principal
importance in daily Malayali tribe life and
many species have a specific ceremonial
significance generally associated with
blessings age-rites and witchcraft Some plants
are used as offerings to god among these tribes
Asclepias curassavica L Cassia montana
Heyne Clerodendrum serratum L and
Plumeria rubra L flowers are used in religious
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
practice to worship God Holarrhena
pubescens (Buch-Ham) WallexGDon
Wrightia tinctoria RBr mature stem are used
in all traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions
Malayali tribes believe that some of the
plants bring good fortune and keep off evil
spirits The exudates of Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb and Semecarpus
anacardium L are used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect them from evils
afflictions brush body with leaves and root of
Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake
bite brush body with leaves of Schefflera
racemosa Harms protect from evils afflictions
roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Aitf is
stitched together and then worn around the hip
to protect from evils afflictions rhizome of the
Acorus calamus Linn is made into pieces and
stitched together and worn around the neck of a
new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions
Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate
sexual desire ie Abrus pulchellus Wall
Alangium hexapetalum Lam Canthium
parviflorum Lam Drosera indica L Evolvulus
alsinoides Linn Ficus bengalensis Linn
Grewia tenax (forssk) fiori Mimosa pudica
Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn Ocimum canum
Sims and Randia dumetorum Lam
Plants used as Toothbrush
Malayali tribals generally use the young
twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn
Azadirachta indica AJuss Ficus glomerata
Roxb Ficus religosa Linn Jatropha curcas L
and Psidium guajava Linn areial root of Ficus
benghalensis Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn
rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula Retz
fruit powder are used as tooth powder
Plants used in Hair Nourishment
Heredity older age lack of nutrition
infections (such as worms lice scabies
dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic
products (soaps shampoos and hair oils) may
cause hair loss dandruff discoloration of hairs
Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant
resources for hair disorders For example
Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a
shampoo seeds of Argemone mexicana root of
Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening
the hairs flowers of Annona squamosa amp fruit
of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff
and kill lice whole plant parts of Andrographis
echioides flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia
calendulacea prevented hair loss
Table 1 List of plants used by Malayali Tribal people for NTFP in Yercaud hills
S
No
Botanical Name Vernacular Name
(Tamil)
Family Parts used Purposes
1 Abrus pulchellus
Wall
Vellaikuntumani Fabaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
2 Acorus calamus
Linn
Vasambu Araceae Rhizome Rhizome made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the neck of new born
baby to get rid from evils
afflictions
3 Agave americana L Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
4 Agave angustifolia
Haw
Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
5 Alangium
hexapetalum Lam
Earualangi Alangiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
6 Alangium salvifolium
Linn
Alangal Alangiaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
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have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
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Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
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of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
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Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Meliaceae Caesalpiniaceae Verbenaceae
Arecaceae Ebenaceae Lamiaceae Tiliaceae
Myrtaceae and Dipterocarpaceae (2 species)
Araceae Acanthaceae Annonaceae
Papaveraceae Bambusaceae Borangiaceae
Cyperaceae Droseraceae Proteaceae
Convolvulaceae Gyrocarpeaceae Ulmaceae
Malvaceae Lythraceae Nyctaginaceae
Moringaceae Salicaceae Araliaceae
Asteraceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species) From
the study it was observed that 51 taxa are trees
(60) 23 taxa are herbs (20) and 10 taxa are
shrub (12)
Fire wood plants
One of the most important non timber
forest products for daily life is fuel wood the
only means of energy source of Malayali
tribes The fuel wood species are collected
from the forest near to the hamlets The species
preferred for fire wood to their comfortable
availability and inflammability According to
Malayali tribes which are not considered as a
source of good timber are treated as fire wood
The fire wood utilized by Malayali tribes
belong to 15 species 15 genera and 10
families they are Albizzia lebbeck Benth
Bauhinia tomentosa L Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb Chomelia astiactica OKze
Diospyros montana Roxb Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq Holopetela integrifolia
(Roxb) Planch Mallotus philippensis M Arg
Moringa oleifera Lamk Plectronia didyma
Kurz Salix tetrasperma Roxb Shorea robusta
Roth Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels Terminalia
bellerica Roxb and Zanthoxylum budrunga
Wall
House construction and house hold
implements
Malayali tribes have good Knowledge to
use natural resources specifically plants for
their day-to-day life Malayali tribes use
Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq leaves to make
meal plate Phoenix sylverstris Roxb leaves to
make broom stick Cyperus rotundus L
Ophiuros exalatus OKtz Oryza sativa L
Sorghum vulgare L are used for roofing and
thatching Mature stem of Cassia fistula Linn
Chloroxylon swietenia DC Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl and Terminalia
chebula Retz were used to make pounder
Mature stem of Artocarpus hirsutus Lam is
used to make churn-staff woody stem of
Mangifera indica L is used to make wood
grinder leaves of Cassia fistula Linn is used
for ripening of fruits Gmelina arborea Roxb
mature stem is used as a stick for musical
instrument the fibers from the leaf fibers of
Agave americana L and Agave angustifolia
Haw are used for making coir the culm of
Bambusa arundinacea Willd is used for
making various types of baskets leaves of
Corypha umbracalifer L is used for making
baskets and decoration in ceremonies
Wood forms an important construction
material for houses cattle sheds and temporary
settlements in the area Windows doors and
cots were chiefly made up of Albizia
odoratissima Benth Cleistanthus Collins
Benth Cordia wallichii G Don Dalberiga
lanceolaria L Diospyros edenum JKoeing
Gardenia resinifera Roth Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br Melia composite Willd
Shorea roxburghii Roxb Tectona grandis
Linn Zanthoxylum budrunga Wall and
Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk
Agricultural implements
For making agricultural implements four
species were used such as Chloroxylon
swietenia DC and Bumbusa arundinacea Willd
were used for making handle of axe and woody
stem of Anogeissus latifolia Wall and Tectona
grandis Linn is made in the shape of a harrow
by Malayali tribes
Plants used for Religious purposes
Ceremonial plant use is of principal
importance in daily Malayali tribe life and
many species have a specific ceremonial
significance generally associated with
blessings age-rites and witchcraft Some plants
are used as offerings to god among these tribes
Asclepias curassavica L Cassia montana
Heyne Clerodendrum serratum L and
Plumeria rubra L flowers are used in religious
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
practice to worship God Holarrhena
pubescens (Buch-Ham) WallexGDon
Wrightia tinctoria RBr mature stem are used
in all traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions
Malayali tribes believe that some of the
plants bring good fortune and keep off evil
spirits The exudates of Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb and Semecarpus
anacardium L are used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect them from evils
afflictions brush body with leaves and root of
Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake
bite brush body with leaves of Schefflera
racemosa Harms protect from evils afflictions
roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Aitf is
stitched together and then worn around the hip
to protect from evils afflictions rhizome of the
Acorus calamus Linn is made into pieces and
stitched together and worn around the neck of a
new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions
Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate
sexual desire ie Abrus pulchellus Wall
Alangium hexapetalum Lam Canthium
parviflorum Lam Drosera indica L Evolvulus
alsinoides Linn Ficus bengalensis Linn
Grewia tenax (forssk) fiori Mimosa pudica
Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn Ocimum canum
Sims and Randia dumetorum Lam
Plants used as Toothbrush
Malayali tribals generally use the young
twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn
Azadirachta indica AJuss Ficus glomerata
Roxb Ficus religosa Linn Jatropha curcas L
and Psidium guajava Linn areial root of Ficus
benghalensis Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn
rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula Retz
fruit powder are used as tooth powder
Plants used in Hair Nourishment
Heredity older age lack of nutrition
infections (such as worms lice scabies
dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic
products (soaps shampoos and hair oils) may
cause hair loss dandruff discoloration of hairs
Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant
resources for hair disorders For example
Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a
shampoo seeds of Argemone mexicana root of
Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening
the hairs flowers of Annona squamosa amp fruit
of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff
and kill lice whole plant parts of Andrographis
echioides flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia
calendulacea prevented hair loss
Table 1 List of plants used by Malayali Tribal people for NTFP in Yercaud hills
S
No
Botanical Name Vernacular Name
(Tamil)
Family Parts used Purposes
1 Abrus pulchellus
Wall
Vellaikuntumani Fabaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
2 Acorus calamus
Linn
Vasambu Araceae Rhizome Rhizome made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the neck of new born
baby to get rid from evils
afflictions
3 Agave americana L Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
4 Agave angustifolia
Haw
Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
5 Alangium
hexapetalum Lam
Earualangi Alangiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
6 Alangium salvifolium
Linn
Alangal Alangiaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
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Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
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Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
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(2007) Biologically active endophytic
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
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Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
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Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
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Integrative and Comparative Biology
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Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
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distribution structural diversity
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Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
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Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
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Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
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Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
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endophytic fungi associated with 29
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
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Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
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Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
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Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
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Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
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endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
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Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
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an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
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Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
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Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
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Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
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Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
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Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
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Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
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Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
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Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
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Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
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Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
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Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
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Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
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Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
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Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
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Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
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Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
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Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
practice to worship God Holarrhena
pubescens (Buch-Ham) WallexGDon
Wrightia tinctoria RBr mature stem are used
in all traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
Plants used to ward off Evil afflictions
Malayali tribes believe that some of the
plants bring good fortune and keep off evil
spirits The exudates of Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb and Semecarpus
anacardium L are used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect them from evils
afflictions brush body with leaves and root of
Toddalia asiatica Lamk to protect from snake
bite brush body with leaves of Schefflera
racemosa Harms protect from evils afflictions
roots of Calotropis gigantea (L) Aitf is
stitched together and then worn around the hip
to protect from evils afflictions rhizome of the
Acorus calamus Linn is made into pieces and
stitched together and worn around the neck of a
new born baby to get rid from evils afflictions
Malayali tribes use some plants to stimulate
sexual desire ie Abrus pulchellus Wall
Alangium hexapetalum Lam Canthium
parviflorum Lam Drosera indica L Evolvulus
alsinoides Linn Ficus bengalensis Linn
Grewia tenax (forssk) fiori Mimosa pudica
Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn Ocimum canum
Sims and Randia dumetorum Lam
Plants used as Toothbrush
Malayali tribals generally use the young
twigs of Alangium salvifolium Linn
Azadirachta indica AJuss Ficus glomerata
Roxb Ficus religosa Linn Jatropha curcas L
and Psidium guajava Linn areial root of Ficus
benghalensis Linn Mirabilis jalaba Linn
rhizome powder and Terminalia chebula Retz
fruit powder are used as tooth powder
Plants used in Hair Nourishment
Heredity older age lack of nutrition
infections (such as worms lice scabies
dandruff and eczema) and use of synthetic
products (soaps shampoos and hair oils) may
cause hair loss dandruff discoloration of hairs
Women in Malayali tribes use the natural plant
resources for hair disorders For example
Albizzia amara leaves powder was used as a
shampoo seeds of Argemone mexicana root of
Cynodon dactylon were used for blackening
the hairs flowers of Annona squamosa amp fruit
of Citrus medica were used to remove dandruff
and kill lice whole plant parts of Andrographis
echioides flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
leaves of Lawsonia inermis and Wedelia
calendulacea prevented hair loss
Table 1 List of plants used by Malayali Tribal people for NTFP in Yercaud hills
S
No
Botanical Name Vernacular Name
(Tamil)
Family Parts used Purposes
1 Abrus pulchellus
Wall
Vellaikuntumani Fabaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
2 Acorus calamus
Linn
Vasambu Araceae Rhizome Rhizome made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the neck of new born
baby to get rid from evils
afflictions
3 Agave americana L Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
4 Agave angustifolia
Haw
Aanaikattrazhai Asparagaceae Leaf fibers Leaf fibers used for making Coir
5 Alangium
hexapetalum Lam
Earualangi Alangiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
6 Alangium salvifolium
Linn
Alangal Alangiaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
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need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
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were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
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have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
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some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
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Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
Arnold AE (2007) Understanding the diversity
of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
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Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Albizia odoratissima
Benth
Poosilai maram Mimosaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
8 Albizzia amara
Boivin
Arappu Mimosaceae Leaves Leaves powder is used as
shampoo
9 Albizzia lebbeck
Benth
Vakaimaram Mimosaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
10 Andrographis
echioides Nees
Gopuramthangai Acanthaceae Whole
plant part
Whole plant parts made into
powder This preparation is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
prevent the hair loss
11 Annona squqmosa L
Seetha pazham Annonaceae Flowers The fresh flowers are made into
paste This preparation is applied
on scalp to wash hairs it remove
the dandruff
12 Anogeissus latifolia
Wall
Namai Combretaceae Wood The wood is used to make in the
shape of harrow
13 Argemone mexicana
L
Bhrahmadandu Papaveraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Seeds are soaked in oil the oil is
applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
14 Artocarpus hirsutus
Lam
Kattuppala Moraceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
churn-staff
15 Asclepias
curassavica L
Mookuthepoovu Asclepidaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
16 Azadirachta indica
AJuss
Vembu Meliaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
17 Bambusa
arundinaceae Willd
Mungil Bambusaceae Culms Split culms are woven into mats
baskets and fans
18 Bauhinia tomentosa L Pathini maram Fabaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
19 Buchanania
angustifolia Roxb
Seeramaram Anacardiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
20 Calotropis gigantea
(L) Aitf
Erukkan Asclepidaceae Root Roots are made into pieces and
stitched together and then worn
around the hip to protect from
evils afflictions
21 Canthium
parviflorum Lam
Karamullu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
22 Cassia fistula Linn Kondrai Caesalpiniaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder Leaves are used for
ripening of fruits
23 Cassia monatana
Heyne
Kallipoo Caesalpiniaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
24 Chloroxylon
swietenia DC
Purusa maram Rutaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder The wood is used to
make handle of axe
25 Chomelia astiatica
OKze
Therani Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
26 Citrus medica L Elamachi Rutaceae Fruit The fruits are soaked in coconut
oil for half an hour The oil is
applied on scalp to wash hairs it
remove the dandruff and kill lice
27 Cleistanthus collinus
Benth
Woodan Euphorbiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
28 Clerodendrum
serratum L
Kappukattu sedi Verbenaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
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Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
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ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous medicine ndash GJRMI
Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
submitarticlegjrmicom on or before
July 10th
2014
To advertise on the Flip book Cover page freely
write to
chiefeditorgjrmicom or editorinchiefgjrmicom
Or
Call - +919590574495
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
29 Cordia wallichii G
Don
Paantheakku Boranginaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
30 Corpha umbracalifer
Linn
Kuthapannai Palmaceae Leaves Split leaves are woven into
baskets
31 Cynodon dactylon
(Linn) Pers
Arugampullu Poaceaea Root Roots are soaked in oil The oil
is applied on scalp It used to
blacken the hairs
32 Cyperus rotundus L Koraipullu Cyperaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
33 Dalberiga
lanceolaria L
Pulavai maram Fabaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
34 Dalberiga latifolia
Roxb
Eetimaram Fabaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
35 Diospyros edenum
JKoeing
Karugaali Ebenaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
36 Diospyros montana
Roxb
Vellisuli Ebenaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
37 Drosera indica L Panithangi Droseraceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
38 Evolvulus alsinoides
Linn
Vishnukirandhi Convolvulace
ae
Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
39 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Aerial root Aerial root is used as tooth
brush
40 Ficus benghalensis
Linn
Alamaram Moraceae Root Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
41 Ficus glomerata
Roxb
Attimaram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth
brush
42 Ficus religiosa Linn Arasa maram Moraceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
43 Gardenia resinifera
Roth
Kambaimaram Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
44 Gmelina arborea
Roxb
Kumizha maram Lamiaceae Mature
stem
The mature stem is used as stick
for musical instruments
45 Grevillea robusta
ACunn ex R Br
Savukkumaram Proteaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors and
windows
46 Grewia tenax
(forssk) fiori
Atchumullu Tiliaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
47 Grewia tiliaefolia
Vahl
Thadachimaram Tiliaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used to make
pounder
48 Gyrocarpus
americanus Jacq
Thanakkumaram Gyrocarpeaceae Woody
stem and
leaves
Woody stem is used as a fuel
Leaves make meal plate
49 Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn
Semparuthi Malvaceae Flowers Flowers are crushed and boiled
in oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
50 Holarrhena
pubescens Buch-
Ham)WallexGDon
Kudasapalai Apocynaceae Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
51 Holopetela
integrifolia (Roxb)
Planch
Avali Ulmaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
52 Jatropha curcas L Paikkottai Euphorbiaceae Young twigs Young twigs are used as tooth brush
53 Lawsonia inermis L Marudondri Lythraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Reviews2151ndash66
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Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
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Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
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Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
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Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous medicine ndash GJRMI
Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
54 Mallotus philippensis
M Arg
Thirichichilai
maram
Euphorbiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
55 Mangifora indica L Mamaram Anacaradiaceae Wood Wood is used to make wood
grinder
56 Melia composita
Willd
Malaivembu Meliaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
57 Mimosa pudica Linn Thottal surungi Mimosaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
58 Mirabilis jalaba
Linn
Anthimantharai Nyctaginaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
Rhizome powder is used as tooth
powder
59 Moringa oleifera
Lamk
Murungai Moringaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
60 Ocimum canum
Sims
Ganjamkori Lamiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
61 Ophiuros exalatus
Oktz
Kenangupullu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
62 Oryza sativa L Nellu Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
63 Phoenix sylvestris
Roxb
Icham Palmaceae Leaves The leaves are used to make
broom stick
64 Plectronia didyma
Kurz
Nikkanai maram Rubiaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
65 Plumeria rubra L Paalarali Apocynaceae Flowers Flowers are used in religious
practices to worship to God
66 Psidium guajava
Linn
Koiya Myrtaceae Young
twigs
Young twigs are used as tooth
brush Woody stem is used as a
fuel
67 Pterocarpus
marsupium Roxb
Vangai Fabaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
68 Randia dumetorum
Lam
Aaichumulu Rubiaceae Whole
plant parts
Brush body with whole plant
parts to stimulates sexual desire
69 Randia malabaricum
Lam
Kaarakkai Rubiaceae Wood Wood is used to make windows
70 Salix tetrasperma
Roxb
Vanji Salicaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
71 Schefflera racemosa
Harms
Peiviratti Araliaceae Leaves Brush body with leaves to
protect from evils afflictions
72 Semecarpus
anacardium L f
Saramaram Anacardiaceae Exudates Exudates used for marking their
childrenrsquos forehead to protect
from evils
73 Shorea robusta Roth Salamaram Dipterocarpaceae Woody stem Woody stem is used as a fuel
74 Shorea roxburghii
Roxb
Kunkilium Dipterocarpaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
75 Sorghum vulgare L
Solam Poaceae Leaves amp
branches
Leaves and branches are used for
roofing and thatching
76 Syzygium cumini (L)
Skeels
Naaval Myrtaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
77 Tectona grandis
Linn
Thekku Verbanaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel The wood is used
to make in the shape of harrow
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
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were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
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have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
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Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
Arnold AE (2007) Understanding the diversity
of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous medicine ndash GJRMI
Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
submitarticlegjrmicom on or before
July 10th
2014
To advertise on the Flip book Cover page freely
write to
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Or
Call - +919590574495
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
78 Terminalia bellerica
Roxb
Thanrikkai Combretaceae Woody
stem
Woody stem is used as a fuel
79 Terminalia chebula
Retz
Kadukkai Combretaceae Wood and
fruit
Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Fruit powder is
used as tooth powder Woody
stem is used as a fuel
80 Toddalia asiatica
Lamk
Mulaikaradan
mullu
Rutaceae Leaves and
root
Brush body with leaves and root
to protect from snake bite
81 Wedelia
calendulacea Less
Manjakarisalangan
i
Asteraceae Leaves Leaves are crushed and boiled in
oil for one hour The oil is
applied on hairs regularly it
prevent the hair loss
82 Wrightia tinctoria
RBr
Palai Apocynaceae
Mature
stem
Mature stem is used in all
traditional religious festivals and
religious ceremonies
83 Zanthoxylum
budrunga Wall
Karunjoori Rutaceae Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows Woody stem is
used as a fuel
84 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lamk
Yellandai Rhamnaceae
Wood Wood is used to make doors cot
and windows
CONCLUSION
The present investigation revealed that
significant role of plants used by Malayali
tribes in Yercaud hills It is clear that these
products are extremely important and
significant component of the household
livelihood of Malayali tribes The information
collected from tribals is useful for carrying out
further research in the field of ethnobotany
taxonomy These indigenous plants must be
taken into consideration and treated with equal
importance as that of other plant species many
research works must be carried out on these
plants to increase their productivity which will
help in increasing our countryrsquos economy The
diversity of species used by Malayali tribes is
incredible and this sound knowledge has been
documented through this study
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We the authors extend our special thanks to
Mr N Thangaraju IFS District Forest
Officer Salem Division Salem Tamil Nadu
India for giving permission to carry out this
Research work in Yercaud hills area Its our
pleasant duty to express our gratitude to the
local people in the Yercaud hills for sharing
their knowledge on plants We gratefully
acknowledge Mr R Prabakaran Department
of Botany Vivekanandha College of Arts and
Sciences for Women (Autonomous)
Elayampalayam for his help in identification of
the Plant species
REFERENCES
Anthony P Cavender and Manuel Alban
(2009) The use of Magical plants by
curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Journal of Ethnobiology and
Ethnomedicine 5 (3) 1ndash9
Ayyanar M and Ignacimuthu S (2010) Plants
used for non-medicinal purposes by the
tribal people in Kalakad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve Southern India Indian
Journal of Traditional Knowledge 9
(3) 515ndash518
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
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were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
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have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
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Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
Arnold AE (2007) Understanding the diversity
of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
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Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 243ndash251
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Gamble JS and Fischer CEC (1935) Flora of
Presidency of Madras London (Issued
in II part 1ndash7 By Gamble 8-11 by
Fischer) Vol 1ndash3 Calcutta
John Kennedy S M (2006) Commercial Non-
timber forest products collected by
tribals in the Palni hills Indian Journal
of Traditional Knowledge 5 (2) 212ndash
216
Mathew KW (1983) Flora of Tamil Nadu
Carnatic the Rapinat Herbarium
Tiruchirapalli India 3 vol
Prabakaran R Senthil Kumar T and Ravo
MV (2013) Role of Non Timber
Forest Products in the Livelihood of
Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of
Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical
Sciences 3 (05) 056ndash060
Sanjay Kr Uniyal Anjali Awasthi and Gopal S
Rawat (2002) Traditional and
ethnobotanical uses of plants in
Bhagirathi Valley (Western Himalaya)
Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 1 (1) 7ndash19
Subbaiah Muruganandam Singaram
Rathinakumar and Arunachalam
Selvaraju (2012) Plants used for non-
medicinal purposes by Malayali tribals
in Jawadhu Hills of Tamil Nadu India
Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1 (12) 663ndash669
Vijay V Wagh Ashok K Jain and Chitralekha
Kadel (2010) Role of forest products
in the livelihood of tribal community of
Jhabua district (MP) Biological
Forum ndash An International Journal 2
(1) 45ndash48
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
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have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Arnold AE (2007) Understanding the diversity
of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
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Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO FLOURISH
ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS
Sharma Rohit1
1Plant Biotechnology Laboratory RampD Division Tropilite Foods Pvt Ltd Davars Campus Tansen Road
Gwalior-474002 (MP) India
Corresponding Author E-mail accessrohit25gmailcom Mob +919755594040
Received 10052014 Revised 22052014 Accepted 28052014
ABSTRACT
Micropropagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of
high-quality plant-based medicines This technique is of vital use in germplasm preservation of
various useful endangered medicinal plants species with a multiplication benefit of production of
large number of plants starting from single explant Even temperature dependent species can be
maintained throughout the year provided with specific media and environment Tissue cultured
plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of
plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture Propagating media holds a key
aspect for micropropagation The paper reviews the recent advances achievements and potential of
tissue culture for in vitro regeneration with a special elucidation of media salt and hormonal
requirements of different medicinal plants
KEY WORDS Micropropagation tissue culture saponin breeding propagation in vitro
ABBREVIATIONS
BA = 6-Benzylaminopurine
NAA = a-Naphthalene acetic acid
IAA = Indole-3 acetic acid
2iP = 6-(g -Dimethylallylamino) purine
2 4-D = 24-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
KN = Kinetin
TZD = Thiazolidinedione
Review Article
Cite this article
Sharma Rohit (2014) MICROPROPAGATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO
FLOURISH ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANTS Global J Res Med Plants amp
Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 252ndash262
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
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Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
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Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
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Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
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communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
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Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
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New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
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traditional Chinese Medicinal
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
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Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
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Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The creation of nature is thoughtful and meaningful It is important to maintain the balance between plant and animal kingdom But because of various reasons the plant resources were destroyed in last few decades and many species were rendered threatened or extinct Medicinal plants play a key role in world health care systems Herbal medicine is one of the most remarkable uses of plant based biodiversity These plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country They play a significant role in providing primary health care services to people and serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine (Debnath et al 2010) Reserves of herbs and stocks of medicinal plants in developing countries are diminishing and in danger of extinction as a result of growing trade demands for cheaper healthcare products and new plant-based therapeutic markets in preference to more expensive target-specific drugs and biopharmaceuticals Indian continent is the repository of large number of medicinal plants and most of these are available as wild plants in the forests of hills and planes The biotechnological tools are important to select multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants Disturbances of the natural habitats of these plants as a result of anthropogenic activities and invasion of the exotic species has resulted in the drastic decline in the population of these important plant species and many of these species are now listed among the rare critically rare and endangered category (Thakur et al 2009)
Conventional plant-breeding methods can
improve both agronomic and medicinal traits In vitro propagation or tissue culture of plants holds tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicines This can be achieved through different methods including micropropagation The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism particularly in the possibility of altering the
production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology Plant cell culture technologies were introduced at the end of the 1960s as a possible tool for both studying and producing plant secondary metabolites Different strategies using an in vitro system have been extensively studied to improve the production of plant chemicals (Debnath et al 2006) Micropropagation has many advantages over conventional methods of vegetative propagation which suffer from several limitations There has been significant progress in the use of tissue culture and genetic transformation to alter pathways for the biosynthesis of target metabolites Obstacles to bringing medicinal plants into successful commercial cultivation include the difficulty of predicting which extracts will remain marketable and the likely market preference for what is seen as natural source of extracts Unlike the conventional methods of plant propagation micropropagation of even temperature species may be carried out throughout the year and the produced tissue culture plants are generally free from fungal and bacterial diseases Virus eradication and maintenance of plants in a virus-free-state are also readily achieved in tissue culture The high multiplication rate also permits the production of pathogen free material
SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AND
THEIR MICROPROPAGATION
PROTOCOL
1 Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau amp
Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as bdquoSafed Musli‟ is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic Unani Homeopathic and Allopathic systems of medicine Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications It is used to cure physical illness and weakness as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer as a general sex tonic remedy for diabetes arthritis and increasing body immunity curative for natal and postnatal problems increase lactation in feeding mothers as antimicrobial anti-inflammatory antitumor
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
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Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
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Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
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Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
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Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
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Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
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Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
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Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
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Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
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(2004) Natural products from
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Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
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Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
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Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
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Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
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Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
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endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous medicine ndash GJRMI
Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
submitarticlegjrmicom on or before
July 10th
2014
To advertise on the Flip book Cover page freely
write to
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Or
Call - +919590574495
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
agent also used in diarrhea dysentery gonorrhea leucorrhea etc (Thakur et al 2009) Novel propagation techniques like tissue culture can play an important role in the rapid multiplication of elite clones and germplasm conservation of C borivilianum Plant micropropagation is an efficient method of breeding and propagating disease free genetically uniform and massive plants in vitro Rapid micropropagation procedure for this endemic medicinal plant from various explants in solid media (Dave et al 2004) and in liquid media (Rhizvi et al 2007) has been reported Leaf base segments stem disc with shoot meristem sliced root tuber young shoot buds immature floral buds and inflorescence axis were used as explants Debnath et al described that regeneration of C borivilianum from both young shoot buds as well as inflorescence axis bearing an axillary bud gave good results Regeneration was described successfully both from the inflorescence axis and young shoot buds on MS basal medium supplemented with (1ndash5 mgl) BAP Extensive work has been done on the micropropagation of C borivilianum including somatic embryogenesis callus culture encapsulation of young shoot buds and plantlets regeneration in situ Hybridization (FISH) technique (Debnath et al 2007)
Stem disc explant of C borivilianum
transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL BAP gave the maximum shoot proliferation and shoot bud initiation (1483 shoots) as compared to different concentration of BAP BAP at 5 mgL after sub-culturing produced highest significant value of shoot numbers per explant (1483) with no callusing in the cultures (Purohit et al 1994b) Thus there was no chance of genetic variability Kn (kinetin) showed no increment in shoot number The observations revealed that different concentration of cytokinins influenced the shoot length of the in vitro growth of C borivilianum It was further observed that Kn at 5 mgL gave the optimum shoot length (411 cm) and BAP at 5 mgL gave the maximum (451 cm) shoot length Contrary to the reports of Purohit et al (1994a) the interaction of BAP and Kn showed no significant results in shoot proliferation and
shoot elongation On sub-culturing shoot proliferation and shoot elongation was not affected by different strengths of MS media and maximum shoots (433) were observed in the full strength MS media but frac12 MS medium showed significant shoot length (751 cm) elongation (Thakur et al 2013)
Auxins showed a significant effect on supplementation in MS medium on the root initiation proliferation and growth For MS medium supplemented with IBA at 2 mgL numbers of rootsexplant were less (358) compared to IAA at 2 mgL (367) The results obtained with the studies on combination of IBA and IAA supplementation in MS medium was not significant Observations on the effect of different strengths of medium concentration (Full MS 12 MS frac34 MS) on root numberexplant and root lengthexplant revealed that maximum number of roots were obtained in frac12 MS medium (642) optimum response in full MS (367) and minimum in frac34 MS (308) The maximum lengths of roots were also obtained in frac12 MS medium (724 cm) Handling of liquid medium is easier in comparison to solid medium (Rhizvi et al 2007) and so the response of rooting was observed using liquid media The plant yields a flavonone glycoside which is a powerful uterine stimulant steroidal saponins which have muscle building properties and their structure is similar to male anabolic hormones testesterone Roots of Chlorophytum contain 42 carbohydrate 80ndash89 protein 3ndash4 fiber and 2ndash17 saponin Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties C borivilianum produces the maximum root tuber along with the highest saponin content (Attele et al 1999) Traditionally roots of these species are reputed to possess various pharmacological utilities having saponins as one of the important phyto-chemical constituents (Sharma et al 2012) Furthermore saponin from Chlorophytum is a hidden gift from nature which is now proving its efficacy and potential as a miracle herb for biopharmaceutical and neutraceutical attention for human welfare (Sharma et al 2014)
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
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Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
Arnold AE (2007) Understanding the diversity
of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Fig 1 Micropropagation of Chlorophytum borivilianum
(A) Initiation in MS media (B C) Shoot multiplication in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP (D E F) Multiple
shoot and root indcution in MS media supplemented with 5 BAP + 1 K + 2 IBA
2 Momordica balsamina
Momordica balsamina also known as
bdquoBalsam apple‟ (African pumpkin) is an
important medicinal and nutritional plant
of Cucurbitaceae It is an annual to perennial
tendril-bearing herb native to tropical regions
of Africa In India it occurs naturally in forest
in the rainy season The leaves fruits seeds
and bark are reported to have various medicinal
and nutritional importance and called bdquoHidden
gift of Nature‟ (Thakur et al 2009) The fruit
extract of M balsamina shows anti-HIV
property (Bot et al 2007) bdquoMomordins‟ are
capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and
other viruses The leaves and fruit extracts of
this plant shows antiplasmodial activity and is
being used against malaria in African
traditional medicine The extract of various
parts of this plant shows shigellocidal anti-
diarrhoeal antiseptic antibacterial antiviral
antinflammatory hypoglycemic and
antimicrobial properties (Hassan and
Umar 2006 Akinyemi et al 2005 Jigam et
al 2004)
The whole plant is used as a bitter
stomachic and an infusion is used as a wash in
the management of fevers and yaws A
macerate of the whole plant is also used as a
galactogogue and to massage the chest to
relieve intercostals pains The plant is
sometimes used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac
preparations The wallops in Senegal have used
the fruits as purgative agents and vermifuge
The fruits and leaves are used for treatment of
wounds in Nigeria and in Syria as hemostatic
antiseptic The whole plant is used as sponge in
treating skin disease such as scabies and as
tranquilizer in the treatment of mental illness
(Akinniyi et al 1986)
The aqueous leaf extract of M balsamina
has also been used in reducing and relieving
period pain in young girls The natives also use
the seed of the plant in arrow poison The
whole plant extract has insecticidal properties
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
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Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
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Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
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Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
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Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
The pulverized plant is applied externally
against malignant ulcers Young peeled fruits
are cooked and eaten they are often steeped in
salt water after peeling and before cooking to
remove its bitter taste (Thakur et al 2009)
The fruits are common ingredients in Indo
Pakistan pickles and are often used in curries
and meat dishes Tender shoots are usually
consumed with Okra soup by the Kanuris of
Borno State where the plant is locally known as
dagdawu Phytochemical screening of M
balsamina Linn has revealed the presence of
tannins saponins and lectins (Akinniyi et al
1986)
High frequencies of multiple shoot
regeneration were achieved from auxillary buds
of nodal explants by Thakur et al 2011 The
bud explants were cultured on MS media
supplemented with different concentration of
BAP 1 mgL BAP stimulated proliferation of
the bud meristems to form bud clusters and the
co-efficient reached 6ndash8 The maximum
survival percentage of explant was also
observed in the same medium compared to
different concentrations of BAP It is clear that
MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1 mgL
was most effective in multiplication of shoots
but BAP at different concentrations showed
high callusing Activated charcoal at 02 was
found to be most effective to inhibit the callus
growth (Thakur et al 2011) However BAP at
1 mgL with 02 activated charcoal achieved
most significant value of shoot The shoot
elongation was prominent in MS medium
supplemented with 1 mgL BAP and 1 mgL
Kn 02 activated charcoal and 001
glutamine Regeneration of Momordica dioica
on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL
BAP and 01 mgL NAA from node shoot tip
leaf and cotyledon explants was reported
earlier Contrary to the studies on M
balsamina multiple shoot regeneration of
Cucumis melo using shoot tips as explant was
found at 25 mgL NAA and 1 mgL BAP
(Thakur et al 2009)
3 Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri also referred to as
Bacopa monniera Herpestis monnieri water
hyssop and ldquoBrahmirdquo has been used in the
Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries
Bacopa monniera a member of the
Scrophulariaceae family is a small creeping
herb with numerous branches small oblong
leaves and light purple flowers In India and
the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil
shallow water and marshes The herb can be
found at elevations from sea level to altitudes
of 4400 feet and is easily cultivated if
adequate water is available Flowers and fruit
appear in summer and the entire plant is used
medicinally Brahmi may be useful for people
who want to improve mental function and
concentration particularly under pressure or in
stressful conditions Research on anxiety
epilepsy bronchitis and asthma irritable bowel
syndrome and gastric ulcers also supports the
Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa Bacoparsquos
antioxidant properties may offer protection
from free radical damage in cardiovascular
disease and certain types of cancer An
effective protocol for mass propagation of
Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell an important
medicinal plant (Shalini et al 1998) was
developed using shoot tips and nodal segments
as explants (Debnath et al 2006) Shoot
regeneration and somatic embryogenesis from
different explants of Brahmi The explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoogs medium
supplemented with various auxins cytokinins
either alone or with coconut milk and auxins
plus cytokinins Multiple shoots were obtained
on MS medium supplemented with auxins
orand cytokinins with or without coconut milk
Maximum number of plants were obtained on
medium containing KN2-ip (01 mgl) and KN
(1 mg1) in shoot tip and nodal cultures
respectively The regenerated shoots developed
roots on the same medium In our lab similar
observation was noticed The initiation of shoot
proliferation from nodal explants was observed
on MS medium supplemented with BAP
(1 mgl-1) and KN (4 mgl-1
) When these were
subcultured on MS medium supplemented with
BAP (5 mgl-1
) multiple shoot Bud proliferation
was further enhanced They were found to
originate associated with or without roots
Shoot elongation was observed on the same
medium These shoots when transferred to 12
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
Arnold AE (2007) Understanding the diversity
of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
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Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
)
resulted in rooting Regenerated plantlets were
transferred to soil after a very brief period of
hardening The regenerated plants are dark
green in colour and more robust in their growth
than the normal plants
Fig 2 Micropropagation of Bacopa monniera and Momordica balsamina
(A) Initiation stage of Bacopa monniera in MS media (B C) Shoot and root multiplication of Bacopa monniera in
MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 1K + 05 IAA (D) Hardening of Bacopa monniera in pots (E F) Shoot
multiplication of Momordica balsamina in MS media supplemented with 1 BAP + 05K
4 Tinospora cordifolia
Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as bdquothe one who protects the body against diseases‟ It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as rsquoGiloyarsquo in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids glycosides lactones steroids polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz
immuno-modulatory or immuno-stimulatory antitumor cognition anti-inflammatory anti-neoplastic anti-hyperglycemia anti-hyperlipidemia antioxidant anti-tubercular gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection anti-osteoporotic anti-angiogenic anti-malarial and anti-allergic The bitter principles present in the leaves stems roots and barks viz tinosporine tinosporide tinosporaside cordifolide cordifol berberine cordifolioside A B C amritosides A B C and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications (Pandey et al 2012) The nodal segments inoculated in MS basal medium
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
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Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
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Mycology CABI PublishingNew
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Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
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IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
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Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
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Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
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Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
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2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
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289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
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Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
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Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
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Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
supplemented with 05 mgl IBA + 02 mgl NAA produced multiple shoots with an average height of 998 plusmn 088 after 2 weeks of incubation Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength MS basal medium containing 10 mgL BA = 02 mgL IAA Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing soil for acclimatization for a period of three weeks and were successfully established in soil After acclimatization and transplantation 100 acclimatized plantlets were found healthy in ex-vivo conditions (Bhat et al 2013)
5 Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera a giant milk weed is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous ascaricidal schizonticidal anti-microbial anthelmintic insecticidal anti-inflammatory anti-diarrhoeal larvicidal with many other beneficial properties Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin calotropagenin calotoxin calactin uscharin amyrin amyrin esters uscharidin coroglaucigenin frugoside corotoxigenin calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications Different compounds like norditerpenic esters organic carbonates the cysteine protease procerain alkaloids flavonoids sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy elephantiasis fever menorrhagia malaria and snake bite (Sharma et al 2012) In addition latex-derived extracts induce selective cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity (Mathur et al 2009) The latex of C procera has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers in rats and latex extracts protected against inflammation and oxidative stress in arthritic rats (Bharti et al 2010)
Healthy seeds of C procera were treated with 70 (vv) ethanol for 2 min before surface sterilization by dipping into 33 (vv) sodium hypochlorite solution (vv) for 15 min followed by five rinses in sterile distilled water Thereafter five seeds were germinated in each
glass flask containing 30 ml of 12 MS medium salts supplemented with 100 mgL myo-inositol and 3 (wv) sucrose (pH 58) that was solidified with 07 (wv) agar Cultures were maintained at a photoperiod of 12 h and illuminated with cool white fluorescent lamps at a light intensity of 10ndash15 μmolm
2s The
culture room temperature was kept at 28 plusmn 2degC After 30 days under these culture conditions plantlets reached ca 5 cm in height and were used as an explant source In vitro-grown plantlets (30 days after germination) were used as the source of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants Hypocotyls were aseptically removed and cut longitudinally and then cut into slices approximately 10 mm in length Callus induction medium consisted of complete MS basal formulation as prepared for seed germination added of 3 μM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 46 μM kinetin (KIN) (Teixeira et al 2011)
6 Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre also known as bdquogurmarrsquo or bdquosugar destroyer‟ is a woody climbing traditional medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic system of medicine It is used for lowering serum cholesterol triglycerides and blood glucose level (hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic) hypolipidaemic weight loss stomach ailments constipation water retention and liver diseases either high or low blood pressure tachycardia or arrhythmias and used as aperitive purgative in eye troubles anti-inflammatory smooth muscle relaxant prevention of dental caries cataract and as anticancer-cytotoxic agent (Thakur et al 2012) Its flowers leaves and fruits contains alkaloids flavones saponins sapogenins anthraquinones hentri-acontane pentatriacontane α and β-chlorophylls phytin resins d-quercitol tartaric acid formic acid butyric acid lupeol β-amyrin related glycosides and stigmasterol having main principle bioactive compounds viz gymnemic acids gymnemasides gymnemagenin gurmarin gymnemosides gymnemanol gymnemasins gypenoside and conduritol which act as therapeutic agent and play vital role in many therapeutic applications Gymnemic acids are thought to be responsible
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
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were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
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have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
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Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
Arnold AE (2007) Understanding the diversity
of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous medicine ndash GJRMI
Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
submitarticlegjrmicom on or before
July 10th
2014
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
for its antidiabetic activity and it is the major component of an extract shown to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
Nodal segments were washed thoroughly under running tap water for 30 minutes followed by treatment with Bavistin solution 1 for 15 minutes It was further washed under tap water thoroughly for pre-sterilization and then rinsed with distilled water thrice and finally surface sterilization was carried out for 3 minutes with 001 mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and then explants were washed 3 times with sterile distilled water After surface sterilization the explants were inoculated on MS medium 4 containing 3 (wv) sucrose various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) and auxin
(NAA) (05 10 15 and 20 mgl) The pH of the medium was adjusted to 57 before gelling with 08 (wv) agar and autoclaved at 121degC for 15 minutes Among the various concentrations (05 10 15 20 30 and 40 mgl) of BA used the best response was observed at 10 mgl A maximum number of 7 shoots (Plate 1b) was observed at 10 mgl BA with the average length of 34 cm The multiple shoots were harvested and transferred to rooting medium with different concentrations of NAA (05ndash20 mgl) A maximum number of roots were observed at 10 mgl NAA with the average length of 2cm BAP is said to be the inducer of multiple shooting (Manonmani and Francisca 2012)
Table 1 Micropropagation media of different medicinal plants with their potent media active
metabolite and specific action
Plant Active
Metabolite
Action Micropropagation
media
Reference
Camptotheca
acuminata
Camptothecin antitumor WPM + 4 μM BAP Linebereger et
al 1998
Catharanthus
roseus
vincristine
vinblastine
anticancerous
MS + 1 mgl BAP
+02 mgl α-
naphthaleneacetic acid
Kumar et al
2013
Coleus
forskohlii
Forskolin cardiovascular MS + 057 μM IAA +
046 μM kinetin
Bhattacharya
and
Bhattacharya
2001
Heliotropium
indicum
Heliotrine antitumor
hypotensive
MS + 1mgl Kinetin + 05
mgl BAP + 005
mgl IAA
Kumar and rao
2007
Momordica
charantia
Charantin antidiabetic MS + 2 mgl BAP + 05
mgl Kinetin
Agarwal and
Kamal 2004
Saussurea
lappa
Saussurine bronchiorelaxant MS+ 44 μM BAP + 045
μM TDZ
Johnson et al
1997
Simarouba
glauca
Glaucarubin antiamebic MS + 111 μM
benzyladenine + 1342
μM α-naphthaleneacetic
acid
Rout and Das
1994
Trichosanthes
kirilowii
Trichosanthin abortifacient MS + 2 mgL BA + 05
mgL NAA
Yang et al
2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
activity J Herb Pharmacother 5(1)
45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
Arnold AE (2007) Understanding the diversity
of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous medicine ndash GJRMI
Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
submitarticlegjrmicom on or before
July 10th
2014
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
7 Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus originated from
Madagascar but has now been spread
throughout the tropics and subtropics by human
activity This plant is cultivated as an
ornamental plant throughout tropical and
subtropical areas and many parts of the world
Catharanthus is a plant belonging to the
family well known for being rich in alkaloids
All parts of plant especially the leaves contain
antineoplastic bisindole alkaloids among those
are vinblastine and vincristine which are
widely employed as chemotherapeutic agents
against cancer The absolute levels of
vinblastine and vincristine are considered far
too low to explain the activity of crude extracts
of Catharanthus Various studies show the
presence of other antineoplastic alkaloids in the
plant (Piovan and Filippini 2000) Callus
induction from nodal explants was observed on
Murashige and Skoog by Debnath et al 2006
MS medium supplemented with NAA (02 mgl-
1) and KN (2 mgl
-1) Multiple shoot
proliferation and shoot elongation was
observed on MS medium supplemented with
NAA (05 mgl-1
) and KN (2 mgl-1
) These
shoots when transferred to MS medium
supplemented with IBA (2 mgl-1
) resulted in
rooting For alkaloid extraction in vitro plant
multiplication is an ideal approach to produce
leaf material in large quantity In vitro heavy
metal stress on callus culture and regeneration
of pathogen free healthy plants through callus
culture have been reported (Debnath et al
2006)
CONCLUSION
Micropropagation of medicinal plants with
enriched bioactive principles and cell culture
methodologies for selective metabolite
production is found to be highly useful for
commercial production of medicinally
important compounds The efficient techniques
plant tissue culture are playing a crucial role in
serving the life science and opening new
horizons in preserving endangered species
compiling our green world Tissue culture
protocols have been developed for several
plants but there are many other species which
are over exploited in pharmaceutical industries
and need conservation These new technologies
will serve to extend and enhance the continued
usefulness of higher plants as renewable
sources of chemicals especially medicinal
compounds
REFERENCES
Agarwal M Kamal R (2004) In vitro clonal
propagation of momordica charantia L
Indian Journal of Biotechnology 3
426ndash430
Akinniyi JA Sultanbawa MUA
Manawaku D (1986) In The State of
Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria
University Press lbadan Nigeria pp
154ndash165
Akinyemi KO Mendie UE Smith ST
Oyefolu AO Coker AO (2005)
Screening of some medicinal plants
used in south-west Nigerian traditional
medicine for anti-salmonella typhi
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45ndash60
Attele AS Wu JA Yuan CS (1999)
Ginseng pharmacology Multiple
constituents and multiple actions
Biochemical Pharmacology 58 1685ndash
1693
Bhat TM Singh M Malik T (2013)
Micropropagation of Tinospora
cordifolia (willd) Miers ex Hook F
Thoms ndash A threatened medicinal plant
IAJPR 3(5) 3636ndash3641
Bhattacharyya R Bhattacharyya S (2001) In
vitro multiplication of Coleus forskohlii
Briq An approach towards shortening
the protocol In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 37(5)
572ndash575
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
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Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
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1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
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Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
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Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
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(2007) Biologically active endophytic
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
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Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
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Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
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Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
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Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
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Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
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Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
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New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
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activities of endophytes from some
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Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
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Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
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Microbiol11733ndash741
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
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Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
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Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
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an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
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Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
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Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
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JWeds New York USA Marcel-
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Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
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Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
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Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
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Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
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Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
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Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
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Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
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Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
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Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
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Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
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Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
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Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
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Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
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Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
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Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
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Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
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spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
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Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
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herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
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Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
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Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
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principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
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WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
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and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Bot YS Mgbojikwe LO Nwosu C
Abimiku A Dadik J Damshak D
(2007) Screening of the fruit pulp
extract of Momordica balsamina for
anti HIV property African journal of
Biotechnology 6 047ndash052
Dave A Joshi N Purohit SD (2004) In
vitro propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum using encapsulated shoot
buds European Journal of Horticulture
Science 69(1) 37ndash42
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2006)
Micropropagation A tool for the
production of high quality plant-based
medicines Current Pharma
Biotechnology 7 33ndash49
Debnath M Malik CP Bisen PS (2007)
Clonal propagation of Chlorophytum
borivilianum- An endangered medicinal
plant Phytomorphology 57 117ndash121
Debnath M Pandey M Sharma R Thakur
GS Lal P (2010) Biotechnological
intervention of Agave sisalana A
unique fiber yielding plant with
medicinal property Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research 4(3) 177ndash
187
Hassan LG Umar KJ (2006) Nutritional
value of balsam apple leaves Pakistan
Journal of Nutition 5 522ndash529
Jigam AA Akanya HO Adeyemi DJ
(2004) Antimicrobial and
antiplasmodial effects of Momordica
balsamina Niger J Nat Prod Med 8
11ndash12
Johnson TS Narayan SB Narayana DBA
(1997) Rapid in vitro propagation
of Saussurea lappa an endangered
medicinal plant through multiple shoot
cultures In Vitro Cellular amp
Developmental Biology ndash Plant 33(2)
128ndash130
Kumar A Prakash K Sinha RK Kumar
N (2013) In vitro plant propagation of
Catharanthus roseus and assessment of
genetic fidelity of micropropagated
plants by RAPD marker assay Applied
Biochemistry Biotechnology 169(3)
894ndash900
Kumar MS Rao MV (2007) In vitro
micropropagation of Heliotropium
indicum Linn An ayurvedic Herb
Indian journal of Biotechnology 6
245ndash249
Limburger D Reed D Rumpho M (1998)
Micropropagation of Camptotheca
acuminata Hort Science 33 604
Manonmani R Francisca P (2012) In vitro
multiplication of Gymnema sylvestre R
BR Through nodal explants
International Journal of Pharma and Bio
Sciences 3 2
Pandey M Chikara SK Vyas MK
Sharma R Thakur GS Bisen PS
(2012) Tinospora cordifolia A
climbing shrub in health care
management International Journal of
Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(4) 612ndash
628
Piovan A Filippini R (2000) Somatic
embryogenesis and indole alkaloid
production in Catharanthus roseus
Plant Biosystems 134(2) 179ndash184
Purohit SD Dave A Kukda G (1994a)
Micropropagation of Safed Musli
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) a rare
Indian medicinal herb Plant Cell Tissue
Organ Culture 39 93ndash96
Purohit SD Dave A Tiagi YD (1994b)
Chlorophytum borivlianum Sant and
Fern An (Liliaceae) interesting species
from the Aravallis in Rajasthan
Rheedea 4 113ndash115
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
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have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
Arnold AE (2007) Understanding the diversity
of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 252ndash262
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Rhizvi MZ Kukreja AK Knanuja SPS
(2007) In vitro culture of Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand in liquid
culture medium as a cost effective
measure Current Science 92(1) 87ndash90
Rout GR Das P (1994) Somatic
embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
37(1) 79ndash81
Shalini Mathur and Sushilkumar (1998)
Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic
Plant Science 20 1056ndash59
Sharma R Saxena N Thakur GS
Sanodiya BS Jaiswal P (2014)
Conventional method for saponin
extraction from Chlorophytum
borivilianum Sant et Fernand Global
Journal of Research in Medicinal Plants
amp Indigenous Medicine 3(2) 33ndash39
Sharma R Thakur G Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Bisen PS (2012) Saponin
A wonder drug from Chlorophytum
species Global Journal of Research in
Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous
Medicine 1(10) 503ndash515
Sharma R Thakur GS Sanodiya BS
Savita A Pandey M Sharma A
Bisen PS (2012) Therapeutic
potential of Calotropis procera a giant
milkweed IOSR-Journal of Pharmacy
and Biological Science 4(2) 42ndash57
Teixeira FM Ramos MV Soares AA
(2011) In vitro tissue culture of the
medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to
produce pharmacologically active
proteins from plant latex Process
Biochemistry 46 1118ndash1124
Thakur GS Bag M Sanodiya BS
Debnath M Bhadouriya P Prasad
GBKS Bisen PS
(2009) Momordica balsamina- a
medicinal and neutraceutical plant for
health care management Current
Pharma Biotechnology 10(7) 667ndash682
Thakur GS Pandey M Sharma R
Sanodiya BS Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2011) Factors affecting in vitro
propagation of Momordica balsamina a
medicinal and nutritional climber
Physiology and molecular biology of
Plants 17(2) 193ndash197
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS et al
(2013) In vitro induction of tuber
formation for the synthesis of secondary
metabolites in C borivilianum sant ed
Fernand African journal of
Biotechnology 12(20) 2900ndash2907
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Baghel R Gupta A
Prasad GBKS Bisen PS (2011)
High frequency in vitro shoot
regeneration of Momordica balsamina
an important medicinal and nutritional
plan African Journal of Biotechnology
10(70) 15808ndash15812
Thakur GS Sharma R Sanodiya BS
Pandey M Prasad GBKS Bisen
PS (2012) Gymnema sylvestre An
Alternative Therapeutic Agent for
Management of Diabetes Journal of
Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (12)
001ndash006
Yang XL Jin GR Yang DP Li S Zhu
YG (2006) Tissue culture and rapid
propagation of Trichosanthes kirilowii
Zhong Yao Cai 29(11) 1129ndash1130
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
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need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
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were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
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have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
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some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
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Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
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Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
Arnold AE (2007) Understanding the diversity
of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous medicine ndash GJRMI
Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
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2014
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
ISSN 2277-4289 | wwwgjrmicom | International Peer reviewed Open access Monthly Online Journal
A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE
SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE METABOLITES
Ruby Jalgaonwala1 Raghunath Mahajan
2
12
Department of Biotechnology MJCollege North Maharashtra University JalgaonMSIndia
Corresponding Author E-mail r_jalgaonwalayahoocoin Mobile +919725400205
Received 23042014 Revised 27052014 Accepted 30052014
ABSTRACT
Microbial endophytes normally reside asymptomatically in the tissues of higher plants and act as
source of original organic metabolites In recent years a great deal of information on the role of
endophytes in host plants has been collected Many important chemotherapeutics from endophytic
metabolites could be used in medicine agriculture and industry With the intention to provide studies
on endophytic microbes this review focuses on the role of endophytes with respect to production of
anticancer antimicrobial antioxidant and other biologically important compounds The main topics
addressed are plant-endophyte relationship potential in drug discovery host-endophyte relationship
diversity distribution and natural products from endophytic microbes
KEY WORDS Endophytes anticancer antimicrobial antioxidation secondary metabolites
Review Article
Cite this article
Ruby Jalgaonwala Raghunath Mahajan (2014) A REVIEW ON MICROBIAL
ENDOPHYTES FROM PLANTS A TREASURE SEARCH FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE
METABOLITES Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med Volume 3(6) 263ndash277
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
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Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
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Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
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Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
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(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
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Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
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Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
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articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
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Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
INTRODUCTION
The word endophyte is derived from Greek
bdquoendo‟gtlt bdquoendon‟ meaning within and
bdquophyte‟gtlt bdquophyton‟ meaning plant The word
ldquoendophyterdquo was introduced by de Bary and
was for some time applied to all ldquoorganisms
occurring within plant tissuesrdquo (de Bary 1866)
or ldquoall organisms inhabiting plant organs that at
some time in their life can colonize in internal
plant tissues without causing apparent harm to
the hostrdquo (Petrini 1991) An endophyte by
definition is one which resides in the tissues
beneath the epidermal cell layers and causes no
apparent harm to the host or fungi (Schulz and
Boyle 2005)
Generally several hundred endophyte
species can be isolated from a single plant (Tan
and Zou 2001) Mostly Ascomycetes
Deutromycetes and Basidiomyctes classess of
fungi are reported as endophytic fungi The
class and species of fungi depends upon the
host plants Recent studies suggested that
endophtytic fungi are not host specific and
generally have widespread host range Earlier
studies lead to the conclusion that fungal
endophytes are ubiquitous in plant species
(Huang et al 2008 Wu et al 2006)
Numerous reports infer that endophytic
actinomycetes play roles in plant protection
against pathogens and their metabolic products
have influence on plant growth and physiology
(Katznelson and Cole 1965 Strobel and Daisy
2003) The fungi like mycorrhizae are
symbiotic associations in between fungi and
roots of majority of plants The external hyphae
of mycorrhizae spread out in to soil
surrounding the infected root tips and as a
result mycorrhizal fungi reside only partly
inside the plant tissues In this way they are
different from typical endophytes Arnold et
al 2007 explored the difficulty of endophytes
versus mycorrhizae and exemplify that the
mycorrhizae found in roots are mostly different
in taxonomic composition to those endophytes
found in leaves On one hand endophytes can
produce analogous or the same biologically
active constituents as its host such as an
endophytic fungus producing taxol (Strobel et
al 1993)
Many important chemotherapeutics are
either microbial metabolites or their
semisynthetic derivatives Investigating the
metabolites of endophytes can boost the chance
of finding novel compounds so an intensifying
stream of attention is being directed to the
endophytes and biomass can be accumulated by
large scale fermentation (Tan and Zou 2001) This review aims to provide an overview of the
endophytic natural products along with
potential applications particularly in the area of
agriculture medicinal industry and biological
diversity with respect to microbial endophytes
The plant endophyte relationship
The host-endophyte relationship is
supposed to be complex and different from host
to host and microbe to microbe The fungus
passes from one generation to next through the
seeds (Boursnell 1950 Bultman and Murphy
2000) The fungus enters the seedling from the
seed and spreads through out enters new
tissues as they arise for this plant Germination
and subsequent development of the seedling
depends on the presence of the fungus devoid
of it the plant ceases to grow beyond certain
stages During the fall the plant digests the
swollen hyphae of the fungus that are found in
the roots and obviously benefits nutritionally
from the microbe The relationship is truly
mutalistic because the fungus must obtain
nourishment from the plant since it does not
have contact with the soil Endophytes that
inhabit foraging grasses eg rye grasses do not
leave their plant host and can only reproduce
by invading seed tissue of the plant (Stone et
al 2000)
Endophytes could be involved in
pathogenecity of the host plants The endophyte
population in abnormally developed plant
tissues such as in galls and cysts are often
quite different from healthy secretions (Stone et
al 2000) Environmental conditions such as
soil temperature and humidity etcwould also
are expected to affect the nature and the
population of endophytes (Hata et al 1998)
Plants in unique environments that fight to
compete with other living organisms or that
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
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Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
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Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
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Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
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Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
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Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
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Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
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Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
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166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
need as much resistance as possible to survive
are probable candidates to host endophytes
which generate secondary metabolites that will
assist the plants (Strobel et al 2004) Many
researchers hold that plants growing in tropical
forest rainforest where competition for light
and nutrient is intense are most likely to host
the greatest number of bioactive endophytes
Several studies note that endophytes from
tropical regions produced significantly more
bioactive secondary metabolites than those
from temperate parts of the world (Bills et al
2002)
Most of the innovation of surfeit of
microbes for applications that span a wide
range of efficacy in medicine agriculture and
industrial area is currently useful However
considerable work has also been carried out on
a variety of different plants example Musa
acuminata Glycine max Sorgum bicolour
Triticum aestivum Zea mays Agropyron
elongatum Sorghastrum nutans Sweet potato
Ocimum sanctum Ocimum bacilicum Leucas
aspera and Azadirachta indica (Wipornpan et
al 2001 Khan et al 2010 Banerjee et al
2009 Kharwar et al2008 Kumaresan et al
2001) Endophytic microbes are the source of
natural products for optimizing the search for
new bioactive secondary metabolites It is also
relevant to consider that
i The secondary metabolites synthesis may
correspond with its respective ecological niche
OR
ii Continual metabolic interaction between
endophytes and plant may enhance the
synthesis of secondary metabolites
Studies have proved that they have the
capacity to produce toxins in response to
infection that benefits the host plants (Stone et
al 2000) Unlike the plant host many
endophytes are able to survive under quite
extreme and inhospitable conditions In one
study hyphae within stored mycorrhizal roots
survived for six years in dry soil (Stone et al
2000 Strobel et al 2004) and endophytes can
be extracted from plant samples long after the
plant tissues has died
Endophytes and their potential in drug
discovery
Endophytic microbes from medicinal plants
are good source of functional metabolites
(Tejesvi et al 2007 Bailey et al 2006)
Endophyte infections have been found to alter
pattern of gene expression in the host plant
(Baily et al 2006) Endophytes from
Angiosperms as well as Gymnosperms have
been studied for presence of novel secondary
metabolites The natural products produced by
endophytes have vast range of bioactivities
representing a vast reservoir offering an
enormous potential for exploitation in
medicinal agricultural and industrial uses (Tan
and Zou 2001) Crude extracts from culture
broth of endophytes found to show
antibacterial antifungal antiviral anti-
inflammatory and antitumor activities (Silva et
al 2007) Therefore endophytes open up new
areas for the biotechnological exploitations
Host endophyte relationship and effect on
metabolites production
Microorganisms are likely to harbor
metabolic pathways that lead to the production
of novel secondary metabolites Many of the
important secondary metabolites have been
extracted and characterized from endophytic
microbes (Tan and Zou 2001) which includes
alkaloids steroids terpenoids peptides
polyketones flavenoids quinols and phenols
In addition natural products also often serve as
lead structures whose activity can be enhanced
by exploitation through synthetic chemistry
(Strobel and Daisy 2003) Endophytes are able
to increase host fitness and competitive
abilitity by increasing nutritional uptake
resistance to seed predators seed germination
success tolerance to heavy metals high salinity
and good growth rate through biochemical
pathways such as phytohormone indole acetic
acid (IAA) from fungal endophytes
Acremonium coenophialum Aureobasidium
pullulans Epicoccum purpurascens and
Collectotrichum sp along with IAA cytokinins
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
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of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
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articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
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Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
were also produced by an endophytic
Hypoxylon serpens (Tan and Zou 2001) Plants
provide spatial arrangement shelter nutrients
and distribution to the next generation of
microbes (Rudgers 2000) Plant may provide
vital compounds for the completion of the life
cycle of the endophytes (Strobel 2002)
Current research suggested that endophytes and
plant genotypic combinations together with
environmental conditions are an important
source of variation in endophyte host
interactions (Faeth and Fagan 2002) Many
factors such as season age environment and
location may contribute and influence the
biology of endophyte (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Endophytes derive nutrients from the
plant without killing host endophytic microbes
such as Phomopsis Phoma Colletotrichum and
Phyllosticta have wide host range and found to
colonize numerous taxonomically distinct
plants (Murali et al 2006 Sieber 2007)
developing adaptations to overcome different
types of host defence
Endophyte infection affects the
concentration of abscisic acid in leaves of
drought stressed grasses and this helps in the
recovery of endophytes infected plant in water
deficient conditions also Endophytic microbes
residing in the host tissue some time turn in to a
pathogen in response to some environmental
signal (Hendry et al 2002) Such a change in
the nature of the endophytes would also result
in a change in its metabolite profile
(Suryanarayanan and Murali 2006)
Endophytic microbes associated with
traditionally used medicinal plants particularly
of the tropics could be a rich source of
functional metabolites (Tejesvi et al 2007)
Diversity and distribution of
microorganisms recovered as endophytes
There are some major points represented
with respect to diversity and distribution of
endophytes as follows i Individual endophytes
can switch symbiotic lifestyles and the result of
symbiosis is influenced by host genotypes ii
Mutalistic benefits conferred by endophytes are
also influenced by plant genotypes iii The host
range of endophytes is inadequately defined
and which includes both monocot and dicot
species and iv Endophyte‟s host plant
describes adaptive symbiosis Some endophytes
have evolved with a high degree of suppleness
to enter between genetically distinct plant
species which provides endophytes an option to
develop habitat range Endophytic microbes
can have intense effects on plant ecology their
fitness and are able to produce number of
bioactive agents The fossil proof shows that
fungal symbionts have been associated with
plants from the Ordovician period of
approximately 400 million years ago when
plants first became established on land
(Redecker et al 2000) migrating from aquatic
to terrestrial habitats There are two major
classes of fungal symbionts associated with
internal plant tissues such as
i Fungal endophytes residing entirely within
host plants and associated with roots stems
leaves and flowers
ii Mycorrhizal fungi that are residing only in
roots but extend out into the rhizosphere
In count to this fungal endophytes also are
divided into two classes
i A comparatively minute number of
fastidious species limited to a few monocot
host plants (Clay and Schardl 2002)
ii A huge number of tractable species with
broad host ranges together with monocots
and eudicots (Stone 2000)
Considerable research have been done in
class I endophytes as compared to class II
endophytes corresponding largest group of
fungal symbionts This is because the class II
endophytes have only been elucidated in recent
times and shown to be responsible for the
adaptation of some plants to high-stress
environments (Suryanarayanan and Murali
2006) Endophytic fungi may express different
symbiotic lifestyles in response to the host
genotypes and environmental factors Lifestyle
expression of endophytes is a post colonization
phenomenon which involves biochemical and
genetic communications between endophytic
microbes and host Basically grass species
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
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Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
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Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
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metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
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Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
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Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
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Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
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Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
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Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
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Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
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Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
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Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
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distribution structural diversity
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526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
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Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
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Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
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Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
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Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
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2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
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Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
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Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
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Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
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Microbiol11733ndash741
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
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Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
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Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
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an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
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Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
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Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
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Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
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Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
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Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
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Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
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Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
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Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
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Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
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Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
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(2004) Natural products from
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Prod67 257ndash268
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Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
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Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
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Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
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Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
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Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
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Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
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Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
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Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
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Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
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WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
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Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
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plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
have been entirely studied in relation to their
endophytic biology (Tan and Zou 2001)
Clavicipitaceous endophytes represents Class I
and are small number of phylogenetically
related Clavicipitaceous species which are
fastidious in culture and also limited to some
cool and warm seasonal grasses (Stone et al
2004) Transmission of these class I endophytes
is mostly vertical with maternal plants passing
fungi on to offspring by means of the seed
infections (Leuchtman 2003) Class II
endophyte generally comprises diverse species
all of which in general are members of the
Dikarya (Ascomycota or Basidiomycota) having
ability to give habitat specific stress tolerance
to host plantsThe main established hypothesis
says that Clavicipitaceous endophytes are
defensive mutualists of host grasses and play
role during their evolution (Tanaka et al
2005) Class III endophytes are basically
distinguished on the basis of their occurrence
and horizontal transmission including vascular
nonvascular plants some woody and
herbaceous angiosperms in tropical forest and
antarctic plant communities These endophytes
are especially known for their huge diversity
within individual host tissues plants and also
populations Class IV endophytes contains
darkly melanized septa and they are restricted
to plant roots Generally these are
Ascomycetous fungi conidial or sterile and
forming melanized structures and also found in
non mycorrhizal plants from antarctic arctic
tropical ecosystems and temperate zones
Diversity of endophytic microbes shows to
protect plants from the herbivores and is
responsible for the production of novel
secondary metabolites Fungal endophytes
those vertically transmitted are sexual and
transmit via fungal hyphae penetrating the
hosts‟ seeds for eg Neotyphodium these fungi
are frequently mutualistic and on the contrary
endophytes transmitting horizontally are sexual
and transmit via spores which can be spread by
wind and insect vectors also The endophytic
microbes possibly adopt the same strategy as
that of plant pathogenic fungi in order to enter
the host plant (Sieber 2007)
Research emphasize that endophytes are
usually not host specific single endophyte can
have wide host range Same microbe isolated
from different tissue or part of the same host
plant differs in their abilities for utilization of
different substances endophytic organisms
associated with plants are varied and complex
Subsequent identification of potential genes
provides evidence of specific pathway for
known alkaloids synthesis by endophytes
(Tanaka et al 2005) Consequently if
endophytes can produce the same bioactive
compounds as their host plants this would
reduce the need to harvest slow growing rare
plants and also help to preserve the worlds
diminishing biodiversity
Plant growth promoting endophytes
Endophytes show numerous direct and
indirect mechanisms to promote plant growth
and health Direct plant growth promoting
mechanisms from endophytic suppression of
the production of stress ethylene by 1-
aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)
deaminase activity (Dell‟Amico et al 2005)
and alteration of sugar sensing mechanisms in
plants Non reducing disaccharide such as
trehalose is main storage carbohydrate of
bacteria it is also produced in plants but in
lesser extent as compaire to sucrose This sugar
thought to play a vital role in plants for
controlling their partitioning of carbon into cell
wall biomass (Ramon and Rolland 2007)
Alteration in biosynthesis and metabolism of
trehalose also increase tolerance to drought
salt and cold Therefore several endophytic
bacteria from poplar tree were able to
metabolize trehalose for example
Plasmodiophora brassicase Plant-associated
bacteria benefits plant by preventing the growth
of pathogens through antibiosis (Zhang et al
2004) Plant-growth-promoting endophytic
bacteria were isolated from Brachiaria hybrid
CIAT 36062 and introduced into Brachiaria
hybrid cv Mulato positive for nif H gene
sequences and inoculated Mulato plants
showed higher chlorophyll and total nitrogen
contents in leaves DNA sequence analysis
demonstrated that the nif H gene found were
highly similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
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Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
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Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
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Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
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Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
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from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
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distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
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Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
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Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
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New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
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Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
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Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
some other N2-fixing organisms identical to
those of other N2-fixing bacteria For this
reason plant research area are now diverted to
use endophytes in development of agriculture
crops and forest regeneration
Natural Products from Endophytes
The requirement for new antimicrobial
agents generally comes from the increasing
resistance of pathogenic microbes towards
antibiotics Many microorganisms are known to
acquire resistance to commonly used
antimicrobial chemical compounds So the
interest in natural methods of pathogen control
through new eco-friendly agents has increased
The biologically active natural products from
endophytes are excellent resources for
medicine agriculture and industry (Guo et al
2008) About 51 of biologically active
substances from fungal endophytes were
previously unknown Amines and amides are
very common metabolite products from
endophytes and have shown to be toxic to
insects but not to mammals Bioactive
metabolites such as steroids terpenoids and
diterpenes also are generated by endophytes
Endophyte also produces extracellular
hydrolyases to establish a resistance
mechanism against plant invasion which
includes some of the extracellular enzymes like
cellulases proteinase lipases and esterases
The actions of these enzymes found to support
the hypothesis of co-evolution between
endophytes and their hosts (Tan and Zou
2001) Number of secondary metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes is larger than
that of any other endophytic microorganisms
Endophytic fungi are a promising source of
novel compounds (Redecker et al 2000)
Role of Endophytes in the discovery of
anticancer agents
Endophytes hold main position in drug
discovery as it has antibiotic antiviral and
anticancer properties due to their ability to
produce novel chemicals which can be used as
drugs Pacli taxel was first found in plants and
later on reported from fungal endophyte It is
the first major group of anticancer agents which
is produced by endophytes and now much
research has been conducted on endophytes to
determine its anticancer activity Production of
taxol was also done from endophytic fungi
Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from
Morinda citrifolia with its cytotoxicity against
human breast cancer cell line Other important
anticancer agents from the fungal endophytes
were reported including camptothecin and
several analogues (Redman et al 2001)
vincristine (Figure 1Chemdraw) and
podophyllotoxin Subsequently one hundred
anticancer compounds which belong to
different chemical classes with activity against
45 different cell lines have been isolated from
different fungal species belonging to different
groups out of which 57 were novel
oranalogues of known compounds Endophytic
fungi was isolated and identified from
Juniperus communis L Horstmann as a novel
producer of deoxypodophyllotoxin (Kusari et
al 2009)
Figure 1Vincristine Figure 2 Sterigmatocystin
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
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Reviews2151ndash66
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Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
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Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
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Mycology CABI PublishingNew
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Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
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Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
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Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
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Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
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from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
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Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antibiotics
Plants with ethno botanical history are
generally expected to be powerful source of
endophytes producing active natural products
As more than 3000 diseases are clinically
described today less than one third of these can
be treated symptomatically And even a less
than that need needs new therapeutic agent with
infectious diseases control (Strobel and Daisy
2003) Tan and Zou in recent times isolated
secondary metabolites of endophytes are
synthesizing via variety of metabolic pathways
(Tan and Zou 2001) eg polyketide isoprenoid
or amino acid derivation and belonging to
different structural groups such as phenols
isocoumarins steroids xanthones perylene
derivatives depsipetides quinines furandiones
terpenoids and cytochalasines Fungus
Podospora Sp endophytic from the plant
Laggera alata (Asteraceae) shows presence of
xanthones sterigmatocystin (Figure
2Chemdraw) Also chaetoglobosin A and
rhizotonic acid were reported from endophytic
Chaetomium globosum in Maytenus hookeri
and Rhizoctonia Sp in cynodon dactylon
correspondingly to be active against the gastric
ulcer Altersetin from endophytic Alternaria Sp
shows potent activity against pathogenic Gram
positive bacteria
Fungal genus Cinnamomum zeylanicum
found to be producing extremely bioactive
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Endophytic Muscodor albus produces a
mixture of VOCs consists primarily of various
alcohols acids esters ketones and lipids
Cryptocandin A an antifungal lipopeptide was
isolated from endophytic Cryptosporiopsis
quercina containing a number of unusual
hydroxylated amino acids and 3 hydroxy-4-
hydroxymethyl proline which founds to be
active against some fungal pathogens like
Candida albicans Trichophyton Sp
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea
(Wipornpan et al 2001) The endophytic
Chloridium Sp from Aindica produces
Javanicin (Figure 3 Chemdraw) which is
highly active against Pseudomonas Spp
(Tejesvi et al 2007) A tetramic acid cryptocin
(Figure 4 Chemdraw) was obtained from
endophytic microbe strong activity against
Pyricularia oryzae plant pathogenic fungi
Endophytic fungus initiate production of
Ambillic acid which is highly functionalized
cyclohexenone with strong antifungal activity
A strain of Pestalotiopsis microspora isolated
from the tree Torreya taxifolia produces a
compound pestaloside having antifungal
activity Pestalotiopsis jester is an endophytic
fungi produces the extremely functionalized
cyclohexenone epoxides jesterone and hydroxy
jesterone exhibiting excellent antifungal
activities against a variety pathogenic fungi of
plants Fungal endophyte isolated from
Acalypha indica species shows potent
antibacterial activity against human pathogenic
bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis Klebsiella
pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus The
mechanism of antibiosis includes production of
antibiotic compounds bioactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and some enzymes
(Ownley et al 2010) Fungal endophyte
Phomopsis Sp YM 311483 produces four new
ten membered lactones activite against
Aspergillus niger Botrytis cinere and Fusarium
spendophytic (Strobel 2002) Jesterone
synthesis was reported with potent antifungal
activity from endophytic Pestalotiopsis jesteri
Endophytic fungi isolated from Rhizophora
mucronata Avicenna officialis and Avicenna
marina and their ethyl acetate extract showed
maximum antibacterial activity against
bacterial pathogens and anticancer activity for
Hep2 and MCF7 cell line In Vitro
Endophytic Gram positive bacteria like
Bacillus Sp have also been isolated from
cotton cucumber root and citrus plant
Coronamycin characterize a complex peptide
antibiotic with activities against pythiaceaus
fungi human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus
neoformans and also against the malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum was produced
by a Verticillate Streptomyces spendophyte
from an epiphytic vine Monstera Sp (Ezra et
al 2004) During the isolation of endophytes
actinomycetes generally appeared much later
than endophytic bacteria and fungi and are also
able to produce various metabolites
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
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of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
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Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Streptomyces Sp NRRL30566 from a fern-
leaved grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia) tree
reported to produce original kakadumycin
chemically related to echinomycin
Biologically dynamic species of Streptomyces
were isolated from species of Nothofagus and
some other plants from the southern reaches
Patagonia Having activity against plant
pathogens like Pythium ultimum Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum Mycosphaere llafijiensis and
Rhizoctonia solani (Wu et al 2007 Castillo et
al 2007)
Figure 3 Javanicin Figure 4 Cryptocin
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antiviral agent
Endophytes have also been studied for their
antiviral activity the emergence of
multiresistance against existing drugs and high
cost of current therapies as well as the AIDS
associated opportunistic infections such as
Cytomegalo virus and Polyoma virus needs
essential antiviral agent Cytonic acid A and B
were recognized as human cytomegalo virus
protease inhibitors from endophytic fungus
Cytonaema Sp isolated from Quercus Sp (Guo
et al 2008) A novel quinine related
metabolites xanthoviridicatins E and F was also
produced by an endophytic Penicillium
chrysogenum able to inhibit the cleavage
reaction of HIV-1 integrase
Some antioxidant compounds produced by
endophytes
Free radicals are atoms causing damage to
body cells and harmful to our immune system
leading to many of degenerative diseases
Antioxidant donates electron to free radicals
and converts them to harmless molecules
protecting cells from oxidative damage aging
and various diseases Antioxidant are habitually
produced many endophytes Pestacin and
Isopestacin were produced by Pestalotiopsis
microspora from host Terminalia morobensis
(Strobel 2002) About 12 endophytes from
Trachelospermum jasminoides were assayed
for more potent free radicals scavenging
activities using 1 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhyrazyl
(DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals assay
Endophytes from medicinal plants are main
resources for antioxidant metabolites helps to
study relationship between total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and total phenolic content
(TPC) The antioxidant capacities of the
endophytes were significantly correlated with
their total phenolic contents suggesting that
phenolics are the key antioxidant constituents
of endophytic microbes Metabolites produced
by fungal endophyte can be a good source of
novel natural antioxidant compounds (Wu et
al 2007)
Secondary metabolites from endophytes as
antimycotic agents
Fungal infections are now becoming
difficult problem as a result of the bigger
numbers organ transplants patients with
weakened immume systems so required new
antimycotic agent to contest these problems
(Strobel 2002) A unique peptide antimycotic
Cryptocandin A was isolated from
Cryptosporiopsis quercina endophyte of
medicinal plant Tripterigeum wilfordii
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
Arnold AE (2007) Understanding the diversity
of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous medicine ndash GJRMI
Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
submitarticlegjrmicom on or before
July 10th
2014
To advertise on the Flip book Cover page freely
write to
chiefeditorgjrmicom or editorinchiefgjrmicom
Or
Call - +919590574495
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Secondary metabolites from endophytes
with further intersting Pharmacological
activities
Compounds with immuno-suppressive
activities were obtained from endophytic fungi
such as subglutinols A and B which are non
cytotoxic diterpene pyrones from Fusarium
subglutinans endophyte from Triptergium
wilfordii Aurasperone A (Figure 5
Chemdraw) from endophytic Aspergillus niger
isolated from Cynodon dactylon is xanthine
oxidase inhibitor 3 Hydroxypropionic acid was
isolated from endophytic fungi showing
nematicidal activity against the plant-parasitic
nematode such as Meloidogyne incognita with
the Lithal dose 50 values of 125ndash15microgml
This was the first report of 3-hydroxypropionic
acid from endophytic fungi with the
nematicidal activity (Michael et al 2004)
Endophytes do produce secondary metabolites
when placed in culture however the
temperature the composition of the medium
and the degree of aeration will affect the
amount and kind of compound that are
produced by an endophytic fungus (Strobel et
al 2004) The host endophyte interaction
provides nutrients and shelter for endophytes
which in substitute improve plant growth and
health Many endophytic bacteria are closely
related to environmental and clinical isolates
whose genomes have been or are in the process
of being sequenced
Figure 5 Aurasperone
Plant endophyte interactions affect
metabolite production
Plants have been viewed as a major source
of new lead compounds for drug discovery
attention has more recently turned to
endophytes as these microorganisms have great
potential as sources for new bioactive
compounds (Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011)
This may be the case because endophytes may
have developed close biological associations
with and inside their host leading to the
production of high number and diversity of
classes of biological activities Thus they
represent an under-utilized resource in the
search for new compounds Studies of these
organisms indicate that they are prolific
producers of compounds that can be exploited
as both agrochemical and medicinal agents
(Jalgaonwala and Mahajan 2011 Jalgaonwala
et al 2011)
Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) made
investigation on different tissues of selected
fifteen indigenous medicinal plants such as
Aloe vera Curcuma longa Azadirachta indica
Coriandrum sativam Eucalyptus globules
Hibiscus rosa sinensis Ixora coccinea
Murrayo koenginii Musa paradiasica Ocimum
sanctum Pongamia glabra Sphaeranthus
indicus Vinca rosea Vitex nigundo and
Withania somniphera The research provided
by Jalgaonwala and Mahajan (2011) evidence
that isolated endophytes such as bacteria fungi
and actinomycetes are capable to survive inside
medicinal plants The endophytic diversity
from selected plant species was rich About
50 of test isolates exhibit potent antimicrobial
activity and metabolite were partially
characterized with attempts to identify potent
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
Arnold AE (2007) Understanding the diversity
of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous medicine ndash GJRMI
Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
submitarticlegjrmicom on or before
July 10th
2014
To advertise on the Flip book Cover page freely
write to
chiefeditorgjrmicom or editorinchiefgjrmicom
Or
Call - +919590574495
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
microbesThe search for new compounds is
certainly of equal importance however has
been the discovery that some endophytes
produce compounds that have been exclusively
isolated from higher plants Described below in
Table 1 are some examples of bioactive
products from endophytic fungi and their
potential in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical arenas
Table 1 List of natural products produce by endophytes
Microbial strain Plant host Natural product(s) Biological activity
Acremonium zeae (NRRL
13540) (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Zea maydis L (maize)
(Poaceae) Pyrrocidine A Pyrrocidine B Antibacterial
Antifungal
Aspergillus clavatus strain H-
037 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya
grandis Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer
Aspergillus fumigatus CY018
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Asperfumoid Asperfumin
Monomethylsulochrin Antifungal
Mycotoxin Antifungal
Mycotoxin
Aspergillus niger IFB-E003
(Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Rubrofusarin BFonsecinone
A
Aurasperone AAsperpyrone B
Cytotoxic Xanthine
oxidase Inhibitor
Antifungal Xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Aspergillus parasiticus
RDWD1-2 (Trichocomaceae) Sequoia sempervirens (D
Don) Endl(Taxodiaceae) Sequoiatone C Sequoiatone D toxic to brine shrimp
toxic to brine shrimp
Aspergillus sp (Strain
CY725) (Trichocomaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Monomethylsulochrin
Helvolic acid
Ergosterol
5α8α-Epidioxyergosterol
Antibacterial
Eosinophil inhibitor
Antibacterial
Botrytis sp (Sclerotiniaceae) Taxus brevifolia Nutt
(Taxaceae) Ramulosin 6-
hydroxyramulosin 8-
dihydroramulosin
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Cephalosporium sp IFB-E001
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Trachelospermum
jasminoides Lemoire
(Apocynaceae)
Graphislactone A (23) Antioxidant
Ceratopycnidium
baccharidicola (Ascomycetes
Incerte sedis)
Baccharis cordifolia L
(Asteraceae) Rodicins
Verrucarins toxic to livestock
toxic to livestock
Chaetomium chiversii CS-36-
62 (Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Radicicol cytotoxic Hsp90
inhibitor
Chaetomium globosum
(Chaetomiaceae) Ephedra fasciculata A
Nels (Ephedraceae) Orsellinic acid
Globosumone A Cytotoxic
Cytotoxic
Cladosporium herbarum IFB-
E002 (Mycosphaerellaceae) Cynodon dactylon (L)
Pers (Poaceae) Aspernigrin A
Rubrofusarin B Cytotoxic xanthine
oxidase inhibitor
Diaporthe sp CR 146
(Valsaceae) Forsteronia spicata G
Meyer (Apocynaceae) Cytosporone A
Cytosporone B Antifungal cytotoxic
Antibacterial
Fusarium oxysporum strain
97CG3 (mitosporic
Hypocreales)
Catharanthus roseus (L)
G Don (Apocynaceae)
inner
Vincristine Anticancer
Fusarium sp IFB-121
(mitosporic Hypocreales) Quercus variabilis L
(Fagaceae) Cerebroside
fusaruside
Antibacterial xanthine
Oxidase inhibitor
Hormonema sp ATCC 74360
(Dothioraceae) Juniperus communis L
(Cupressaceae) Enfumafungin Antifungal
Melanconium betulinium
(Melanconidaceae) Betula pendula Roth B
pubescens Ehrh
(Betulaceae)
3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematocidal
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
Arnold AE (2007) Understanding the diversity
of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous medicine ndash GJRMI
Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
submitarticlegjrmicom on or before
July 10th
2014
To advertise on the Flip book Cover page freely
write to
chiefeditorgjrmicom or editorinchiefgjrmicom
Or
Call - +919590574495
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Microsphaeropsis olivacea
(mitosporic Ascomycota) Pilgerodendron uviferum
(D Don) Florine
(Cupressaceae)
[Gymnosperm]
7-hydroxy-24-dimethyl-
3(2H)-benzofuranone
Enalin
Graphislactone A Botrallin
acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) inhibitor
acetylcholinestase
(AChE) inhibitor
Microsphaeropsis sp strain
NRRL 15684 (mitosporic
Ascomycota)
Buxus sempervirens L
(Buxaceae) Lactone S 39163F-I Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Monochaetia sp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Muscodor albus (mitosporic
Xylariales) Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Schaelter (Lauraceae) Volatile antibiotics Antibiotic
Mycelia sterilia (Ascomycota) Atropa belladonna L
(Solanaceae) Preussomerin G
Preussomerin H
Preussomerin I
Antibacterial
Antifungal FPTase
inhibitor
Nodulisporium sp MF 5954
ATCC 74245 (microsporic
Xylariales)
Bontia daphnoides L
(Scrophulariaceae) Nodulisporic acid A
Nodulisporic acid A1 Insecticidal
Insecticidal
Paecilomyces sp H-036 and
W-001 (Trichocomaceae) Taxus mairei (Lemeacutee amp
Leacutev) and Torreya grandis
Arn (Taxaceae)
Brefeldin A Antifungal Antiviral
Anticancer weed
management
Penicillium implicatum
(isolate SJ21)
(Trichocomaceae)
Diphylleia sinensis H L
Li (Berberidaceae) Substance analogous to
podophyllotoxin Anticancer
Penicillium janczewskii
(Trichocomaceae) Prumnopitys andina
(Endl) Laubenf
(Podocarpaceae)
Peniprequinolone
Gliovictin
Mellein
Nematicidal root
growth accelerator
weakly cytotoxic
antibacterial antiviral
Periconia sp OBW-15
(Halosphaeriaceae) Taxus cuspidata Siebold
amp Zucc (Taxaceae) Periconicin A
Periconicin B Antimycotic
Hypocotyl elongation
and root growth
Pestalotiopsis jesteri
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Fragraea bodenii Thunb
(Gentianaceae) Jesterone
hydroxyjesterone Antifungal
Antimycotic
Pestalotiopsis microspora
(Amphisphaeriaceae) Terminalia morobensis L
(Combretaceae) Pestacin
Isopestacin Antimycotic
Antioxidant
Antifungal
Pestalotiopsis spp
(Amphisphaeriaceae) several rain forest plants Ambuic acid Antimycotic
Phomopsis phaseoli
(Valsaceae) tropical 3-hydroxypropionic acid Nematicidal
Phomopsis sp (Valsaceae) Erythrina crista-galli L
(Fabaceae) Phomol Antibacterial
Antifungal
anti-inflammatory
Pseudomassaria sp ATCC
74411 (Hyponectriaceae) unidentified plant
(collected near Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of
Congo)
Demethylasterriquinone B1
(DMAQ-B1)
asterriquinone
Insulin receptor
activator
Serratia marcescens MSU-97
(Enterobacteriaceae) Rhyncholacis penicillata
Tul (Podostemaceae) (ndash)-oocydin A Antifungal
unidentified fungus CR115
(90 similarity to an
uncharacterized oat root
Basidiomycete)
Daphnopsis americana
(Miller) J S Johnson
(Thymelaeaceae)
guanacastepene A
guanacastepene B
Antibacterial
Antibacterial
Unidentified fungus strain
SWS 2611L (DAOM 229664) Picea glauca (Moench)
Voss (Pinaceae) 67-dihydroxy-2-propyl-24-
octadien-4-olide 568-
trihydroxy-4-(1prime-hydroxyethyl)
Toxic to spruce
budworm cell line CF-
1 Source Gunatilaka 2006
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
Arnold AE (2007) Understanding the diversity
of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous medicine ndash GJRMI
Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
submitarticlegjrmicom on or before
July 10th
2014
To advertise on the Flip book Cover page freely
write to
chiefeditorgjrmicom or editorinchiefgjrmicom
Or
Call - +919590574495
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
CONCLUSION
Endophytes comprise a diverse group of
species existing in several ecosystems In
present report we summarise the study of
endophytes their diversity and bioprospecting
Endophytic microbes are omnipresent within
all identified plants in various bionetworks but
the geographical differences in their diversity
composition host and tissue specificity have
not been well documented A powerful and
good sequencing technology will make the
global assessment of endophyte diversity The
above discussed novel bioactive compounds are
only a few examples of what has been found
after the isolation and culturing of individual
endophytic fungi followed by purification and
characterization of some of their natural
products The prospects of finding new drugs
that may be affective for treating newly
developing diseases in humans plants and
animals are great their applications in industry
agriculture may also be discovered among the
novel products produced by endophytes
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are thankful to principal Moolji Jaitha
College Jalgaon for providing laboratory as
well as library facilities to complete the
research work
REFERENCES
Arnold AE (2007) Understanding the diversity
of foliar endophytic progresschallenges
and frontierFungal Biology
Reviews2151ndash66
Boursnell B (1950) The symbiotic seed borne
fungi in the Cistaceae distribution and
function of the fungus in the seedling and
the tissues of the mature plantAnnals of
Botany54217ndash234
Bultman TL and Murphy JC (2000) Do
fungal endophytes mediate wound-
induced resistance In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CWand White JF
(eds) Marcel Dekker New
York16421ndash452
Bills G Dombrowski A Pelaez F Polishook
J and An Z (2002) Recent and future
discoveries of pharmacologically active
metabolites from tropical fungiTropical
Mycology CABI PublishingNew
Yorkl265ndash194
Bailey BA Bae MD Strem DP Roberts
SEThomas J Crozier GJ Samuels
IYChoi and Holmes K A
(2006)Fungal and plant gene expression
during the colonization of cacao
seedlings by endophytic isolates of four
Trichoderma species Planta 2241449ndash
1464
Banerjee D Manna S Mahapatra S and Pati
BR (2009)Fungal endophytes in three
medicinal plants of Lamiaceae Acta
Microbiol Immunol Hung563243ndash50
Clay K and Schardl C (2002)Evolution origins
and ecological consequences of
endophyte symbiosis with
grassesAmerican Naturalist16099ndash127
Castillo UF Browne L Strobel G Hess
WM Ezra S Pacheco G and Ezra D
(2007) Biologically active endophytic
Streptomycetes from Nothofagus Spp
and other plants in Patagonia Microbial
Ecology5312ndash19
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous medicine ndash GJRMI
Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
submitarticlegjrmicom on or before
July 10th
2014
To advertise on the Flip book Cover page freely
write to
chiefeditorgjrmicom or editorinchiefgjrmicom
Or
Call - +919590574495
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
De Bary A (1866) Morphologie and
physiologie der Pilze Flechten and
Myxomycten In Hofmeister‟s
Handbook of Physiological
Botany2Leipzig
Dell‟Amico E Cavalca L and Andreoni V
(2005) Analysis of rhizobacterial
communities in perennial Graminaceae
from polluted water meadow soil and
screening of metal-resistant potentially
plant growth-promoting bacteria FEMS
Microbiol Ecol 52 153ndash162
Ezra D Uvidello F Castillo Strobel GA
Hess WM Porter H Jensen JB
Margaret AMCondron DBTeplow
JS Maranta M Maranta MH
Weber B and Yaver D
(2004)Cronomycins peptide antibiotics
produced by a verticillate Streptomyces
Sp (MSU-2110) endophytic on
Monstera Sp Microbiology150785ndash
793
Faeth SH and Fagan WF (2002) Fungal
endophytesCommon host plant
symbionts but uncommon mutualists
Integrative and Comparative Biology
42(2)360ndash368
Gunatilaka AAL (2006) Natural products
from plant-associated microorganisms
distribution structural diversity
bioactivity and implications of their
occurrence J Nat Prod 69(30) 509ndash
526
Guo B Wang Y Sun X and Tang K (2008)
Bioactive natural products from
endophytes A review Applied
Biochemistry and Microbiology 44
(2)136ndash14
Hata K Futai K and Tsuda M (1998)
Seasonal and needle age-dependent
changes of the endophytic mycobiota in
Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora
needlesCan J Bot76 245ndash250
Hendry SJ Boddy L and Lonsdole D
(2002)Abiotic variable effect
differential expression of latent
infections in beech (Fagus sylvatica)
New phytologist155449ndash460
Huang WY Cai YZ Hyde KD Corke H
and Sun M (2008) Biodiversity of
endophytic fungi associated with 29
traditional Chinese Medicinal
PlantsFungal Diversity3361ndash75
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Isolation and characterization of
endophytic bacteria from roots of
Pongamia glabra vent International
Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences
2( 1) 280ndash287
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT
(2011)Evaluation of hydrolytic enzyme
activities of endophytes from some
indigenous medicinal plants Journal of
Agricultural Technology 7(6)1733ndash
1741
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)
Proteolytic activity of endophytic
bacteria from leaves of Eucalyptus
globulesBionano Frontier 4(2) 287ndash
289
Jalgaonwala REMohite BV and Mahajan
RT (2011)A Review Natural products
from plant associated endophytic fungi
Journal of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Research1(2)21ndash32
Jalgaonwala RE and Mahajan RT (2011)A
Review Bacterial endophytes and their
bioprospecting Journal of Pharmacy
Research4(3)795ndash799
Katznelson H and Cole SE (1965)Production
of giberellin like substances by bacteria
and actinomycetes Can J
Microbiol11733ndash741
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous medicine ndash GJRMI
Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
submitarticlegjrmicom on or before
July 10th
2014
To advertise on the Flip book Cover page freely
write to
chiefeditorgjrmicom or editorinchiefgjrmicom
Or
Call - +919590574495
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Kumaresan V and Suryanarayanan TS
(2001)Occurrence and distribution of
endophytic fungi in a mangrove
community Mycological Research
(105)388ndash1391
Kharwar RN Verma VC Kumar A
Gond SK Harper KJ Hess WM
Lobkovosky E Ma C Ren Y and
Strobel GA (2008)Javanicin an
antibacterial naphthaquinone from an
endophytic fungus of neem Chloridium
Sp Current Microbiol58233ndash238
Kusari S Lamshoft M and Spiteller M
(2009)Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius
an endophytic fungus from Juniperus
communis L Horstmann as a novel
source of the anticancer pro-drug
deoxypodophyllotoxin Journal of
Applied Microbiology1071019ndash1030
Khan R Shahzad S Chaudhary IM Khan
SA and Ahmad A (2010)Communities
of endophytic fungi in medicinal plant
Withania somnifera PakJBot
42(2)1281ndash1287
Leuchtman A (2003) InWhite JF Bacon
CW Hywel-Jones NL Spatafora
JWeds New York USA Marcel-
Dekker341ndash175
Michael S Barbel K Roland WS Weber
Lov OS and Heidrum A (2004) -3
Hydroxypropionic acid was a
nematicidal principle in endophytic
fungiPhytochemistry65 2239ndash2245
Murali TSSuryanarayanan TS and Geeta R
(2006) Endophytic Phomopsis
specieshost range and implications for
diversity estimatesCanadian J of
Microbiology52673ndash680
Ownley BH Gwinn KD and Vega FE
(2010) Endophytic fungal
entomopathogens with activity against
plant pathogens ecology and evolution
Review Biocontrol 55(1)113ndash128
Petrini O (1991) Fungal endophytes of tree
leves In Microbial ecology of leaves
(edn) by Andrews JH and Hiran
SSSpringer VerlagNewYorkUSA
Redecker D Kodner R and Graham LE
(2000) Glomalean fungi from the
Ordovician Science 2891920ndash192
Redman RS Dunigan DD and Rodriguez
RJ (2001) Fungal symbiosis from
mutualism to parasitism who controls
the out come host or invader New
Phytologist151705ndash716
Rudgers JA Kaslow JM and Clay K
(2000) Endophytic fungi alter
relationships between diversity and
ecosystem properties Ecology
Letters7(1)42ndash51
Ramon M and Rolland F (2007) Plant
development Introducing trehalose
metabolism Trends Plant Sci12185ndash
188
Strobel GA Stierle A Stierle D and Hess
WM (1993) Taxomyces a proposed
new taxon for a Bulbilli ferrous
hyphomycete associated with Pacific
yew Mycotaxon4771ndash78
Stone JK Bacon CW and White JF (2000)
An overview of endophytic microbes
endophytism defined In Microbial
Endophytes Bacon CW and White JF
(eds) MarcelNew York 13ndash29
Saikkonen K Ion D and Gyllenberg M
(2002) Proceedings of the Royal
Society B Biological
Sciences2691397ndash1403
Strobel GA (2002a) Microbiol gift from rain
forest CanJPlant Pathol 24(1)14ndash20
Strobel G and Daisy B (2003) Bioprospecting
for microbial endophytes and their
natural products MolbiolRev67 491ndash
502
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous medicine ndash GJRMI
Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
submitarticlegjrmicom on or before
July 10th
2014
To advertise on the Flip book Cover page freely
write to
chiefeditorgjrmicom or editorinchiefgjrmicom
Or
Call - +919590574495
Global J Res Med Plants amp Indigen Med | Volume 3 Issue 6 | June 2014 | 263ndash277
Global Journal of Research on Medicinal Plants amp Indigenous Medicine || GJRMI ||
Strobel G Daisy B Castillo U and Harper J
(2004) Natural products from
endophytic microorganisms J Nat
Prod67 257ndash268
Stone JK White JF and Polishook JD
(2004) Endophytic fungiIn measuring
and monitoring biodiversity of fungi
Inventory and monitoring methods
Mueller G Bills G Foster M (eds)
Elsevier Academic Press Boston MA
241ndash270
Schulz B and Boyle C (2005) The endophyte
continuum Mycological Research
109661ndash686
Suryanarayanan TS and Murali TS (2006)
Incidence of Leptosphaerulina
crassiasca in symptomless leaves of
peanut in southern IndiaJournal of
Basic Microbiology461003ndash1006
Sieber T (2007) Endophytic fungi in forest
trees are they mutualists Fungal
Biology Reviews 2175ndash89
Silva GH Teles LH Zanardi LM Young
MC Eberlin MN Hadad R
Pfenning LHCosta-Neto CM
Gamboa I Bolzani V and Arau AR
(2007) Cadinane sesquiterpenoids of
Phomopsis cassiae an endophytic
fungus associated with Cassia
spectabilis (Leguminosae)
Phytochemistry6719641969
Tan RX and Zou WX (2001) Endophytes a
rich source of functional metabolites
Natural Product Reports18(4)448ndash
459
Tanaka A Tapper BA Popay A Parker
EJ and Scott B (2005) A symbiosis
expressed non ribosomal peptide
synthetase from a mutualistic fungal
endophyte of perennial ryegrass confers
protection to the symbiotum from insect
herbivory Mol Microbiol571036ndash
1050
Tejesvi MV Kini KR Prakash HS
Subbiah V and Shetty HS (2007)
Genetic diversity and antifungal activity
of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as
endophytes from medicinal plants
Fungal Diversity2437ndash54
Wipornpan P Saisamorn L Pipob L and
Hyde KD (2001) Endophytic fungi of
wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi
Suthep Pui National Park Thailand
Mycological Research105(121)508ndash
1513
Wu WJ Nong JY and Shi BJ (2006) New
pesticides from natural products-
principle Method (In Chinses) Beijing
ChemInd Press301ndash302
WuYH Yi ZC Jie X Harlod C and
Meisun (2007) A potential Antioxidant
Resources Endophytic fungi from
medicinal plants Economic
Botany7(61)114ndash30
Zhang S Reddy M S and Kloepper JW
(2004) Tobacco growth enhancement
and blue mold disease protection by
rhizobacteria Relationship between
plant growth promotion and systemic
disease protection by PGPR strain 90ndash
166 Plant and Soil 262 277ndash288
Source of Support NIL Conflict of Interest None Declared
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous medicine ndash GJRMI
Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
submitarticlegjrmicom on or before
July 10th
2014
To advertise on the Flip book Cover page freely
write to
chiefeditorgjrmicom or editorinchiefgjrmicom
Or
Call - +919590574495
Call for Papers ndash Vol 3 Issue 8 August 2014
Submit your manuscripts (Research articles Review
articles Short Communications Letters to the Editor
Book Reviews) to Global Journal of Research on
Medicinal plants amp Indigenous medicine ndash GJRMI
Submit it online through wwwgjrmicom or mail it to
submitarticlegjrmicom on or before
July 10th
2014
To advertise on the Flip book Cover page freely
write to
chiefeditorgjrmicom or editorinchiefgjrmicom
Or
Call - +919590574495