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Antibacterial and anticancer potential of bioactive compounds and secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi isolated from Anethum graveolens

Summary

Scientists isolated 11 different fungi living inside dill plants and tested their ability to fight bacteria and cancer. The extracts from these fungi and the dill plant itself were very effective at killing harmful bacteria and stopping the growth of liver cancer cells. The dill plant extract was most powerful, stopping 95% of cancer cell growth. These findings suggest that fungi living in medicinal plants could be used to develop new medicines for treating infections and cancer.

Background

Fungal endophytes are microorganisms that inhabit plant tissues without causing disease and produce bioactive compounds similar to their host plants. Anethum graveolens (dill) is a medicinal plant known for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. Endophytic fungi associated with medicinal plants represent a promising source for novel therapeutic agents.

Objective

To isolate and identify endophytic fungi from Anethum graveolens and investigate their antibacterial and anticancer potential against multi-drug resistant bacterial strains and human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.

Results

Eleven endophytic fungal species were isolated belonging to nine families. A. graveolens extract showed strongest antibacterial activity (MIC 4 μg/ml), followed by Trichoderma sp. and Penicillium sp. (5-6 μg/ml). A. graveolens extract demonstrated most potent anticancer activity with 95% inhibition of HepG2 cells at 50 μg/ml, while Trichoderma, Penicillium, and Fusarium showed 89-92% inhibition rates.

Conclusion

Endophytic fungi isolated from A. graveolens and the host plant itself possess significant antibacterial and anticancer properties, highlighting their potential as sources of bioactive compounds for novel therapeutic agent development. These findings support the use of medicinal plants and their endophytic fungi as sustainable alternatives to traditional chemical-based disease management approaches.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 39435441, DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1448191
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