Antiproliferative and Antimicrobial Activities of Endophytic Fungus Isolated from Erycibe Elliptilimba

Abstract

Background: Erycibe elliptilimba Merr.&Chun. is a Thai herb in the family Convolvulaceae that has long been used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases including infections and malignancies. Its methanolic extract has antiproliferative activities against various human cancer cell lines with potential ED50 values.

Objective: The antiproliferative activities exhibited from this plant should be investigated to ensure that the effects were from the plant itself. Therefore, the endophytic fungus from this special plant was isolated and evaluated for their antiproliferative and antimicrobial activities.

Methods: The isolation of fungal endophytes from the stems of Erycibe elliptilimba Merr.&Chun. was identified by macroscopic and microscopic morphology. Fungal extraction was demonstrated using thin layer chromatography of the did broth extract. Four human breast cancer cell lines, two human lung eancer cell lines, and one human colon cancer cell line were used to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of the crude broth extract on the cell growth and determine of antibacterial activities.

Results: The results revealed that only one species, Trichoderma ovalisporum, was isolated and its cultured broth extract did not provide an antiproliferative effect against any human cancer cell line nor antimicrobial activities.

Conclusion: Based on this study, the antiproliferative activities against several human cancer cell lines of Erycibe elliptilimba, Merr.&Chun. extract, in recent reports may depend upon the active compounds in the plant itself.