Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of the Secondary Metabolites of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from the Medicinal Plant .

According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that by 2050, drug-resistant infections could cause up to 10 million deaths annually. Therefore, finding a new generation of antibiotics is crucial. Natural compounds from endophytic fungi are considered a potential source of new-generation antibiotics. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects of ethyl acetate extracts of nine endophytic fungal isolates obtained from were investigated for bioassay-guided isolation of the natural compounds. An extract of isolate VII showed the highest antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive bacteria and (30.12 ± 0.20 mm and 35.21 ± 0.20 mm) and Gram-negative bacteria and (30.41 ± 0.23 mm and 25.12 ± 0.25 mm) among the tested extracts of isolates. Molecular identification of isolate VII confirmed it as based on sequencing of its ITS genes, and it was discovered that this was the first time had been isolated from This isolate was cultured at a large scale for the isolation and identification of the active compound. Penicillic acid was isolated for the first time from and its chemical structure was established by NMR spectroscopy. The penicillic acid showed strong antibacterial activities against and with 20.68 mm and 25.51 mm inhibition zones, respectively. In addition, MIC and MBC values and antibiofilm activities of penicillic acid were determined. It was found that penicillic acid reduced the level of biofilms in proportion to antibacterial activity.