Vol. 7, Issue 4 (2018)

Author(s):
KS Singh, S Anand, D Aggrawal, JK Sharma, V Bahuguna

Abstract:
Forests are a dynamic entity harboring different life forms and ecological niches inside them. Medicinal plants form an important component of benefits we derive from forests and has been part of traditional medicine since ages. Recently, endophytes from such medicinal plants have gained attention owing to discovery of numerous bioactive compounds secreted by them and its diverse biotechnological applications. We aimed to isolate bioactive compounds from bacterial endophytes derived from medicinal plants of forest origin. We searched forest region of Haryana for a medicinal plant (Withania sominfera) having significance in traditional Indian medicine-Ayurveda. We isolated and identified bacterial endophytes from this medicinal plant and found an isolate producing exopolysaccharides. The production of exopolysaccharides was optimized and checked for presence of anti-bacterial and biosurfactant properties. We could find many isolates from the stem and leaf explants from W. somnifera plant. A distinct colony which was identified as Bacillus subtilis from stem explant was found to produce exopolysaccharides in liquid culture. This exopolysaccharide was found to have antibacterial activity against pathogenic E. coli and S. typhimurium strains. This exopolysaccharide also showed biosurfactant properties. We isolated and identified a bacterial endophyte from wild medicinal plant. This isolate was found to produce exopolysaccharide which had antibacterial and biosurfactant properties. This isolate has clear medicinal values and might be of use to industry both for production and bioremediation purposes.