Four endophytic fungal species represented by 11 isolates were isolated from Thymus Vulgaris. They were Aspergillus japonicas, Aspergillus terreus, Mycelia sterilia and Penicillium chrysogenum. Aspergillus terreus was the most dominant species. Screening of organic compounds in extracts of A. terreus and T. vulgaris was done. Carvacrol and thymol were present with high percentage. Antioxidant activity was measured by using DPPH radical scavenging assay. A. terreus extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity followed by T. vulgaris extract with IC50 value of 13 and 14.3 μg/ml, respectively. In vitro cytotoxicity assay was done against human liver cancer cell line (HEPG-2). Results revealed that A. terreus extract had the highest cytotoxicity effect followed by T. vulgaris extract with IC50 value of 3.53 and 4.19 μg/ml, respectively.
Key words: Thymus Vulgaris, Endophytic fungi, Antioxidant activity, Cytotoxicity
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