Antioxidant and cytotoxicity evaluation of the Endophytic Fungus, Fusarium equiseti, isolated from the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum

Antioxidants serve as defense mechanisms which protects against oxidative damage through preventing or retarding oxidation caused by free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules with an odd number of electrons generated from oxygen capable of damaging various cellular structures. Endophytes have shown capacity to create beneficial biologically active molecules with a wide range of pharmacological properties usually identical to those of the host plant. Their feature has continued to gain fame due to their ability to produce metabolites within the host system without causing harm to the host while sequestering reactive oxygen species within the host systems. Endophytic fungal isolation, fungal fermentation, extraction of secondary metabolites, antioxidant and cytotoxicity studies were carried out using standard laboratory methods. Therefore, this study evaluated the antioxidant and cytotoxicity activity of fusarium equiseti previously isolated from Ocimum gratissimum.

The findings revealed that the crude extract of an endophyte associated with O. gratissimum called F. equiseti produced substances that have strong antioxidant and cytotoxic properties. The antioxidant and cytotoxic potential were due to presence of compounds previously reported for cytotoxic activity, such as Enniatins and Sarasinoside H1 and while the antioxidant activity was due to presence of Orientin a compound known to have shown antioxidant property.

Therefore, this endophyte may serve as a source of new substances with potential for use in pharmaceutical applications for diseases associated with reactive oxygen species.