Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi is a medicinal plant widely used for the treatment of
various diseases. The secondary metabolites responsible for the pharmacological properties can
be produced directly by the plant or by endophytic fungi. The objective of this study was to
evaluate the diversity of endophytic fungi of di erent parts of S. terebinthifolius and to identify
chemical compounds produced by endophytes and their antioxidant and antibacterial activities.
For this, fruits, stem bark and roots were dried, ground and placed in fungal growth medium.
The selected endophytes were grown and subjected to extraction with ethyl acetate. DPPH, FRAP,
-carotene bleaching and antimicrobial assays were performed. The phylogenetic tree was elaborated,
encompassing 15 di erent species. The fungal extracts showed hydroxybenzoic acids and 1-dodecanol
as predominant compounds. All fungal extracts exhibited antioxidant activity. The fungal extracts
exhibited bactericidal and bacteriostatic activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial
ATCC strains and against methicillin-resistant nosocomial bacteria. Among the 10 endophytic
fungi evaluated, the extract of the fungus Ochrocladosporium elatum showed higher phenolic content
and exhibited higher antioxidant and antibacterial activities in all tests. Together, the results increase
the known diversity of S. terebinthifolius endophytic fungi, secondary metabolites produced and their
antioxidant and antibacterial activities.
Description
Keywords
Antibacterial Antioxidant Endophytes Phenolic compounds Pink pepper Volatile compounds
Citation
da Rocha, Paola Dos Santos; Paula, Vanessa Marina Branco; Olinto, Silvia Cristina Figueira; Dos Santos, Edson Lucas; Souza, Kely de Picoli; Estevinho, Leticia Miranda (2020). Diversity, chemical constituents and biological activities of endophytic fungi isolated from Schinus terebinthifolius raddi. Microorganisms. ISSN -. 8, p. 1-13