Suthep WiyakruttaNongluksna SriubolmasWattana PanphutNuntawan ThongonKannawat DanwisetkanjanaNijsiri RuangrungsiVithaya MeevootisomMahidol UniversityChulalongkorn UniversityThailand National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology2018-07-242018-07-242004-08-12World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. Vol.20, No.3 (2004), 265-272095939932-s2.0-3442892738https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/21069A total of 81 Thai medicinal plant species collected from forests in four geographical regions of Thailand were examined for the presence of endophytic fungi with biological activity. Of 582 pure isolates obtained, 360 morphologically distinct fungi were selected for cultivation on malt Czapek broth and yeast extract sucrose broth, from which extracts were tested for biological activity. Extracts of 92 isolates could inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MIC 0.0625-200 μg ml-1) when tested by the microplate Alamar blue assay, while extracts of six inhibited Plasmodium falciparum (IC50of 1.2-9.1 μg ml-1) as determined by the [3H]hypoxanthine incorporation method. Strong anti-viral activity against Herpes simplex virus type 1 was observed in 40 isolates (IC50of 0.28-50 μg ml-1). The sulphorhodamine B assay for activity against cancer cell lines revealed that 60 were active against human oral epidermoid carcinoma cells (EC500.42-20 μg ml-1) and 48 against breast cancer cells (EC500.18-20 μg ml-1). Bioactivity profile was affected by the type of culture medium. Given the high incidence of bioactive extracts and the fact that most of the isolated fungi could not be identified due to lack of spore formation, the results suggested that Thai medicinal plants can provide a wide variety of endophytes that might be a potential source of novel bioactive compounds.Mahidol UniversityAgricultural and Biological SciencesBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular BiologyImmunology and MicrobiologyArticleSCOPUS10.1023/B:WIBI.0000023832.27679.a8