Isolation and Characterization of Pharmacological Endophytic Fungi from Cassia fistula Leaves

Abstract

Our research effort was to search for anticancer agents from medicinally important plant and to further investigate the endophytic fungi and their association with this plant. The interest for fungi was due to the fact that, survey indicated in many cases not only plants but the endophytic fungi that are harbored in the plants to produce the secondary metabolites which are responsible for the pharmacological activities and biological action of the plant. This aim is based on the fact that many scientists have proven the contribution of fungal extracts to exhibit pharmacological activities either alone or along with the host plants they live. We were able to culture and identify two species of the fungi belonging to the genus Aspergillus, namely they are Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus niger.