Antimicrobial activity of endophytes isolated from Picrorhiza kurroa

Picrorhiza kurroa is one of the medicinal herbs found abundantly in the Himalayan region marketed on large scale. In this study, healthy plant samples of P. kurroa were collected from Galhar at an elevation of 1800 m, with 33°20′11.10″N and 75°56′03.21″E coordinates of District Kishtwar in Jammu Division. Bacterial and fungal endophytes were isolated and identified on the basis of Morphological, Biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA. Bioassay was done using human pathogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC741), Escherichia coli (MTCC 1697), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 96), Salmonella typhimurium (MTCC98). Bacterial endophytes MB-03 and MB-05 had significant activity against P. aeruginosa, whereas fungal endophytes MB-09 and MB-15 had activity against E. coli, S. aureus, S. typhimurium. Endophytes having anti-microbial potential were further processed for identification of active metabolites. Methanol and chloroform extracts of MB-05 having best activity, was subjected to HPLC analysis.