EC Microbiology

An endophytic fungus was isolated from the medicinal plant, Aerva lanata, from Western Ghats region of India. The fungus was identified by morphology, scanning electron microscopy and molecular characterisation as Fusarium equiseti. The fungus was found to produce terpenoid when cultured in potato dextrose broth for 90 days. The compound was separated by column chromatography and identified by thin layer chromatography. The compound was further characterised by IR, NMR and LC-MS and was finally identified to be beta amyrin, a penta terpenoid. Cytotoxicity assay and cell cycle analysis were taken as end points for the study. The compound was found to induce cell death in colon cancer cell line SW620. In cell cycle analysis the Sub G₀ population was very high compared to the control population indicating cell death. The compound thus ensures the possible development of anticancer drug.

 Keywords: Endophytic Fungi; A. lanata; Terpenoid; Cytotoxicity; Apoptosis; Anticancer Metabolite

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