Antibacterial Activity of Extract of Endophytic Fungi of Gymnema sylvestre

Endophytic fungi were isolated from Gymnema sylvestre, a known medicinal plant for hypoglycemic activity. Isolated endophytes were screened for their antibacterial activity against an array of pathogenic bacteria. The systemic study was made on endophytic fungi of medicinal plant, G. sylvestre growing in different natural habitats of India. A total of 25 fungal isolates were recovered from different parts of G. sylvestre and they were grouped in 11 fungal genera. Potato dextrose agar medium yielded the highest number of isolates with the greatest species richness. The fungi were identified as Fusarium sp., Alternaria sp., Phomopsis sp., Pestalotia sp., Xylaria sp., Phyllosticta sp., Gleomastix sp., Acrimonium sp., Aspergillus sp., Cladosporium sp. and Scytalidium sp. The secret of this medicinal plant was revealed by the evaluation of the extract of its endophytic fungi having antibacterial activity. Traditionally this plant is being used since long in diabetic treatment, however it is also effective against the infection. The extracts of five fungal isolates among 25 isolates were found effective inhibitors against human pathogenic bacterial strains Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) a gram negative and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25323) a gram positive bacteria. © 2014, The National Academy of Sciences, India.