title: Antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi isolated from Swietenia macrophylla leaves.
abstract: The endophytic fungi isolated from leaves of Swietenia macrophylla of different ages were examined for antimicrobial activity. The agar plug diffusion assay was used for primary screening, followed by the disc diffusion method. A total of 461 filamentous endophytic fungi were isolated and cultured to examine their antimicrobial properties. In the primary screen, 315 isolates (68.3%) exhibited activity against at least one of the test pathogenic microorganisms. The percentage of isolates exhibiting antimicrobial activity increased with leaf age. Endophytic fungal assemblages, as well as those isolates exhibiting antimicrobial properties appeared to increase with leaf age. The main antimicrobial compounds were produced extracellularly by the endophytic fungi. The results suggest that healthy leaves at older stages of growth can be a potential source for the isolation of endophytic fungi with antimicrobial properties.
authors.forename: Darah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Chong Chai
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Lim
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sheh-Hong
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D060026:Endophytes / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D029582:Meliaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents