Antioxidant Activity of the Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Mangrove Environment of Karankadu, Ramanathapuram District

Antioxidant property of Phomopsis amygdali culture filtrate extracted with ethanol, was evaluated in vitro. ABTS and DPPH radicals were used to evaluate their antioxidant activity. Antioxidant components like total phenol and flavonoid were also determined. The ethanolic extract of Phomopsis amygdali showed potent antioxidant activity against both ABTS and DPPH radicals with the EC50 value of 580.02 ± 0.511μg/ml and 2030.25±501 μg/ml respectively. Total amount of phenol and flavonoid quantified were of 18.33 ± 0.68 gallic acid equivalents per gram and 6.44 ± 1.24 μg/mg of quercetin equivalent respectively. In conclusion, the culture filtrate of Phomopsis amygdali may have potential source of natural antioxidant. INTRODUCTION: Reactive oxidant species (ROSs) plays an important role in degenerative condition such as aging cancer, neuron degenerative disorders, atherosclerosis and inflammations . These free radicals occur in the body during an imbalance between ROSs (Reactive Oxygen Species) and antioxidants. Hence, the dietary intake of antioxidant is necessary and important to balance the antioxidant status that would reduce the pathological conditions induced by free radicals. Plant derived materials have recently become of great interest owing to their multipurpose applications. An enormous variety of plants have been studied for new source of natural antioxidants , especially phenolic and flavonoid compounds derived from plants were proved to be potent antioxidant and free radical scavengers . Endophytic fungi are microorganism hidden within healthy host plant were poorly investigated group among other microorganisms, they represent an abundant and dependable source of novel bioactive compounds with huge potential for exploitations in a wide variety of medicinal, agricultural and industrial areas . There are many reports and studies on the biological activities of endophytes like antiviral, anticancer and antimicrobial effects 5 and . Apart from these biological properties, the reports published on antioxidant properties of endophytytic fungi were very few. Hence in the present study Phomopsis amygdale, an endophytic fungus isolated from the Mangrove plant, the isolated fungus was cultivated under submerged culture condition was evaluated for their antioxidant activity.