Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Potential of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Medicinal Plant Tragia involucrata L.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to test the antioxidant and cytotoxic and DNA protection activities of ethyl acetate extracts of endophytic fungi isolated from Tragia involucrata Linn. (Euphorbiaceae). Materials and Methods: The 1, 1‑diphenyl‑2‑picrylhydrazyl scavenging, reducing power, and total antioxidant assay were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity. Cytotoxic activity of endophytic fungal extracts against MCF‑7 and MOLT‑4 cell lines was carried out using 3‑(4, 5‑dimethylthiazol‑2‑yl)‑2, 5‑diphenyl‑2H‑tetrazolium bromide method. Results: We have successfully isolated four endophytic fungi from T. involucrata, namely Penicillium citrinum CGJ‑C1 (GenBank accession No. KT780618), P. citrinum CGJ‑C2 (GenBank accession No. KP739821), Cladosporium sp. CGJ‑D1 (GenBank accession No. KP739822), and Cryptendoxyla hypophloia CGJ‑D2 (GenBank accession No. KT780619). The ethyl acetate extract of P. citrinum CGJ‑C2 showed the highest antioxidant as well as cytotoxic activity among the four fungal extracts taken for the study. All the extracts showed moderate DNA protection activity. Conclusions: Further studies on the isolation and purification of the lead molecule will help in designing the novel therapy for different ailments associated with free radical generation.