Isolation and Identification of Endophytic Fungi of Licorice and Their Effect on Human Pathogenic Fungi

Background: Endophytes are microorganisms residing within plants, which have recently gained attention for producing bioactive compounds with pharmacological properties like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antibiotic effects.Licorice plants (Glycyrrhiza glabra) may serve as a source of these bioactive metabolites, particularly those with antifungal potential.This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal properties of endophytic fungi residing in licorice plants against human pathogenic fungi.Materials & Methods: Licorice plant samples were collected from three locations in Hamadan in October 2022.Endophytic fungi were collected from different parts of licorice plants, identified morphologically using microscopy, and confirmed through molecular methods by DNA extraction and amplification, with sequencing results compared to public databases.The isolated fungi were cultured on PDA (potato dextrose agar) medium, and crude extracts were obtained using ethyl acetate.The antifungal properties of crude extracts were investigated against four fungal pathogens including Aspergillus niger, Candida glabrata, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Pseudallescheria boydii using disc diffusion method and ketoconazole as a positive control.Findings: A total of 21 endophytic fungi were identified, with Fusarium as the dominant genus.F. oxysporum and F. redolens were prevalent in root tissues, while A. niger dominated in stems and leaves.A. niger exhibited strong antifungal effects against A. niger, C. neoformans, and P. boydii.Conclusion: Licorice plant roots hosted the highest number of endophytes, likely due to reduced exposure to pollution.A. niger and F. oxysporum demonstrated significant potential as biocontrol agents against pathogenic fungi, making them promising candidates for sustainable disease management in agriculture and human health.