Antimicrobial and larvicidal potential of endophytic fungi isolated from Tragia involucrata Linn.

Endophytic fungi are one of the untapped resources of therapeutic compounds for various diseases. The present study focused on the antimicrobial as well as larvicidal activity of ethyl acetate extract of endophytic fungi isolated from Tragia involucrata . The ethyl acetate extract of Penicillium citrinum CGJ-C1 (GenBankNo.KT780618), Penicillium citrinum CGJ-C2 (KP739821), Cladosporium sp. (KP739822), and Cryptendoxyla hypophloia CGJ-D2 (KT780619) was subjected to antimicrobial activity against a panel of microorganisms by disc diffusion method, larvicidal activity against Culex quinquefasciatus . All the extracts showed significant antimicrobial activity against the tested organisms ranging from 8±0.32 to 13±2.11mm (zone of inhibition). The extent of activity was comparable to the standard drugs. The larvicidal potential of the endophytes was superior to T. involucrata extract. The larvicidal activity was found to be dose and time dependent with LC 50 value ranging from 4.25- 158.06 ppm after 24hrs of treatment. This is the first report on the bioactivity of the endophytes isolated from T. involucrata. Further studies on the bio-guided isolation of lead compound will benefit the people suffering from microbial diseases.