title: Antimicrobial activities of endophytic fungi isolated from Ophiopogon japonicus (Liliaceae).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Drug resistance in bacteria has become a global concern and the search for new antibacterial agents is urgent and ongoing. Endophytes provide an abundant reservoir of bioactive metabolites for medicinal exploitation, and an increasing number of novel compounds are being isolated from endophytic fungi. Ophiopogon japonicus, containing compounds with antibacterial activity, is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant used for eliminating phlegm, relieving coughs, latent heat in the lungs, and alleviating diabetes mellitus. We investigated the antimicrobial activities of 30 strains of O. japonicus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fungal endophytes were isolated from roots and stems of O. japonicus collected from Chongqing City, southwestern China. Mycelial extracts (MC) and fermentation broth (FB) were tested for antimicrobial activity using peptide deformylase (PDF) inhibition fluorescence assays and MTT cell proliferation assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 30 endophytic strains were isolated from O. japonicus; 22 from roots and eight from stems. 53.33% of the mycelial extracts (MC) and 33.33% of the fermentation broths (FB) displayed potent inhibition of PDF. 80% of MC and 33.33% of FB significantly inhibited Staphylococcus aureus. 70% of MC and 36.67% of FB showed strong activities against Cryptococcus neoformans. None showed influence on Escherichia coli.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi from O. japonicus are potential antimicrobial agents.
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, Peoples Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hanqiao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Yongmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Dawei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shunxing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Chunlan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000187:drug effects; D060026:Endophytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D005658:Fungi / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D031441:Ophiopogon / Q000382:microbiology*; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents