Biotechnological Potential of Endophytic Fungi Isolated From the Endangered Medicinal Plant <i>Gloriosa superba</i>

The glory lily (Gloriosa superba L.) is a medicinally important and endangered plant found in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India. It harbors a diverse community of endophytic fungi with immense biotechnological potential. To explore the potential medicinal properties of the endophytes, this study sought to isolate, identify, and assess the bioactivity of endophytic fungi from various plant tissues of G. superba, such as roots, stems, leaves, and flowers. Twenty-one endophytic fungal cultures were isolated and identified with molecular and morphological analyses. Bioactivity assays demonstrated their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and enzyme-inhibitory properties, supported by the production of secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids, phenolics, and others. These findings highlight the potential of G. superba-associated fungal endophytes as a sustainable source of pharmacologically active compounds, reducing the reliance on harvesting the endangered host plant from its wild habitats. While exploring its endophytes for various applications, conservation strategies, including tissue culture propagation and habitat preservation, should be employed to protect wild G. superba populations. This integrated approach would support biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization of fungal endophytes isolated from this endangered plant species.