Phytochemical analyses, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer activities of endophytic fungi from leaves of Reseda pruinosa

Fungal endophytes considered one of the major sources of promising bioactive compounds. This study aimed to isolate endophytic fungi from leaves of Reseda pruinosa for the first time, and to evaluate their biological activities. Results illustrated that, two fungal endophytes isolates were isolated, identified as Alternaria sp. and Alternaria alternata morphologically and genetically. Phytochemical analyses of these two fungal isolates metabolites showed significant amounts of phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids. GC-MS analyses of the crude extracts of these two fungal isolates showed that, major compounds in these extracts belong to the classes of fatty acid esters, fatty acids, and terpenoids. Results revealed that the MCF-7 cancer cells was susceptible to the anticancer effects of both fungal isolates crude extracts, with IC50 values of 96.3 and 117.4 µg/ml, respectively. Additionally, it showed promising antibacterial efficacy against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Moreover, both crude extracts of fungal isolates exhibited antioxidant activity, with EC50 values of 234.8 µg/ml and 133.4 µg/ml respectively. Endophytic Alternaria species from leaves of R. pruinosa are a novel source for bioactive compounds that used in different medical fields.