MOLECULAR PROFILING, IN-VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ASSAYS OF ANTAGONISTIC FUNGUS ASCOTRICHA SINUOSA VJCH-18 FROM MANGROVES OF ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIACH. CHIRANJEEVI, M. VIJAYALAKSHMI AND D. ARUNA KIRANMAYEEAbstract The fungi from mangrove habitats are the immense source for biologically active secondary metabolites with therapeutic potential. The objective of the present study is to screen the potent fungi from mangrove sediments that could produce secondary metabolites active against pathogenic microbes. Soil samples collected from mangrove regions of Adavuladeevi, South coast of Andhra Pradesh, India were employed for isolation of fungi using serial dilution plate technique. To isolate fungi, three media viz. Czapek-Dox agar, potato-dextrose agar and Sabouraud-dextrose agar media supplemented with 2% sodium chloride were used. 18 fungal strains isolated from the samples were designated as VJCH-1 to VJCH-18 and evaluated for antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Among them, VJCH-18 showed broad spectrum of antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The strain was cultured in Sabouraud-dextrose broth to record growth phases. Ethyl acetate extract of culture broth was active against bacteria (Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris) and fungi (Candida albicans). The strain exhibited significant antioxidant activity against DPPH free radicals. Characterization of the strain was performed based on cultural, morphological and genomic characteristics using 18s r RNA sequencing and identified as Ascotricha sinuosa VJCH-18 (GenBank accession number: MK463994). The study suggested that fungi from unexplored mangrove habitats of South coast of Andhra Pradesh serve as a source for antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds. |