Isolation of Fungi from Mangrove Ecosystem of Mumbai and Evaluation of their Antibacterial Potential

Abstract

In the current study, fungi from the mangrove ecosystem of Mumbai were isolated and their metabolites were screened for antibacterial potential. Two weeks old broth and mycelium were extracted using chloroform and methanol. Antibacterial property of solvent extracts was evaluated at various concentrations (2 – 10 µg/ml) against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia coli, by well diffusion method. Fungi isolated were identified as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Trichoderma harzianum, Cylindrocladium scoparium and Colletotrichum wuxiense. Results revealed that broth solvent extracts of isolates inhibited the growth of all gram-positive test bacteria, chloroform broth extract of Cylindrocladium scoparium, Colletotrichum wuxiense and ethanolic broth extract of Aspergillus flavus, Trichoderma harzianum exhibited antibacterial potential against gram negative test organisms. Chloroform and ethanol mycelium extracts of Trichoderma harzianum and Aspergillus flavus, respectively, exhibited 100% growth inhibition potential against all test organisms. The current investigation endorses the potent secondary metabolism of the identified isolates and their potential to synthesise antibacterial compounds.

Keywords

• mangrove ecosystem
• fungi
• secondary metabolites
• antibacterial activity