Enzyme Production and Antimicrobial Activity of Endophytic Bacteria Isolated from Medicinal Plants

Objectives: Endophytic microorganisms inhabiting the medicinal plants synergistically produce pharmaceutically important metabolites in their host plants. To explore the possibility of identifying bacterial endophytes producing industrially important enzymes if any, leaves of medicinal plants were collected from the campus of Gurunank College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Method: Six bacterial endophytes were isolated from the leaves of the three traditionally practiced medicinal plants, Mangifera indica, Calotropis gigantea and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and were screened for antimicrobial and enzyme activity. Findings: Endophytic microbial isolates exhibited amylase, protease and cellulase activities in addition to antibacterial and antifungal activities. Application: This study implies that further analysis of these microorganisms will provide promising results in the development of new antimicrobial agents and enzymes with potential usage in various industries.