title: Endophytic fungi from medicinal plant Bauhinia forficata: Diversity and biotechnological potential.
abstract: Bauhinia forficata is native to South America and used with relative success in the folk medicine in Brazil. The diversity, antibacterial activity, and extracellular hydrolytic enzymes of endophytic fungi associated with this plant were studied. Plant samples, which included leaves, sepals, stems, and seeds, were used. Ninety-five endophytic fungal were isolated (18 from leaves, 22 from sepals, 46 from stems, and nine from seeds), comprising 28 species. The most frequently isolated species were Acremonium curvulum (9.5%), Aspergillus ochraceus (7.37%), Gibberella fujikuroi (10.53%), Myrothecium verrucaria (10.53%) and Trichoderma piluliferum (7.37%). Diversity and species richness were higher in stem tissues, and Sorensen's index of similarity between the tissues was low. Eleven fungi showed antibacterial activity. Aspergillus ochraceus , Gibberella baccata , Penicillium commune , and P. glabrum were those with the greatest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and/or Streptococcus pyogenes . Thirteen species showed proteolytic activity, particularly Phoma putaminum . Fourteen species were cellulase positive, particularly the Penicillium species and Myrmecridium schulzeri . All isolates tested were xylanase positive and 10 showed lipolytic activity, especially Penicillium glabrum . It is clear that the endophytic fungi from B. forficata have potential for the production of bioactive compounds and may be a source of new therapeutic agents for the effective treatment of diseases in humans, other animals, and plants. To our knowledge, this is the first study of endophytic fungi from different tissues of B. forficata and their biotechnological potential.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Micologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jadson D P
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bezerra
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Micologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos C F
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Micologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renan do N
authors.initials: Rdo N
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Micologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Dianny C V
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Micologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Virgínia M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Svedese
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Micologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eliane B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Silva-Nogueira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Micologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Micologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Micologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Souza-Motta
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D036481:Bauhinia / Q000382:microbiology*; D044822:Biodiversity; D001688:Biological Products / Q000378:metabolism; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods; D001938:Brazil; D060026:Endophytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000382:microbiology*; D013020:South America; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D006867:Hydrolases
keywords: antibacterial agents; fungal endophytes; hydrolytic enzyme; symbiosis