Secondary Metabolite Analysis of Fusarium solani F1C1, an Endophytic Fungus from Dichrocephala integrifolia

Medicinal plants not only store bioactive compounds but also diverse species of fungal endophytes. This group of fungi produces secondary metabolites in large amount which possess significant biological activities. The present study involved the isolation of the endophytic fungus, Fusarium solani F1C1, from the inflorescence of Dichrocephala integrifolia. The identity was confirmed using ITS-rDNA gene sequencing. Secondary metabolites were collected from F. solani F1C1 and extracted using ethyl acetate. Quantitatively, total flavonoid content of 10.21 (µg of quercetin equivalent/mg of endophyte extract) and total phenolic content of 30.47 (µg of gallic acid equivalent/mg of endophyte extract) were also recorded. The crude extract was analysed using LC-MS to detect the presence of non-volatile compounds, and the most abundant compounds were tentatively identified as aspalathin and kaempferol. Antibacterial activity of ethyl acetate fraction revealed inhibition of the growth of two Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria the with a maximum MIC against Bacillus cereus of 1.56 µg/mL. Further, analysis such as isolation of compounds and evaluation of their bioactive potential, are required to assess their potential for applications in pharmaceutical industries, medicine, and chemical-free agriculture.