Abstract

Medicinal plants are recently being recognized as resources of endophytes with interesting bioactive compounds. In the present study, pharmacological properties of the endophytic fungus Penicillium pimiteouiense SGS isolated from the medicinal plant Simarouba glauca DC were evaluated. Endophytes were isolated using surface sterilization procedure. The crude extract of cultured fungus was prepared in ethyl acetate and was evaluated for antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti hyperglycaemic activities. Phytochemical composition of the crude extract was also studied by standard qualitative assays. The extract of P. pimiteouiense SGS was found to have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Anti hyper glycaemic activity was also revealed by its inhibitory activities on alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase enzymes. Qualitative phyto chemical analysis of the crude extract showed presence of flavanoids, triterpenes, alkaloids and carbohydrates. The medicinal plant S. glauca needs to be explored further as a resource of rare endophytes with bio active compounds.

Key words: alpha amylase, alpha glucosidase, antioxidant activity, endophytes, phytochemicals.