Journal of Applied Biology & Biotechnology Vol. 9(04), pp. 117-125, July, 2021 Available online at http://www.jabonline.in DOI: 10.7324/JABB.2021.9416 Identification and bioactivities of endophytic fungi from Lagenandra toxicaria Dalz. and Kaempferia rotunda L. Praveen Krishnakumar 1 , Mable Varghese 1 , Maria Grace Joe 1 , Asha Rajagopal 2 , Leyon Varghese 1* 1 Immunology and Toxicology Research Lab, Department of Zoology, Christ College (Autonomous), Irinjalakuda, India 2 Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Thrissur, India ARTICLE INFO Article history: Received on: April 10, 2021 Accepted on: May 19, 2021 Available online: July 10, 2021 Key words: Kaempferia rotunda, L. toxicaria, endophytes, Haemonchus, nematicidal, antibacterial ABSTRACT Endophytic fungi from Lagenandra toxicaria and Kaempferia rotunda were isolated and evaluated for their antimicrobial and anthelmintic activities. Based on the morphological and ribosomal large subunit rDNA gene (D1–D2) sequence, LTRH2 and LTRO1 isolated from L. toxicaria were identifed as Aspergillus tamarii and Aspergillus niger, respectively. The KMPRO2 isolated from K. rotunda was identifed as Aspergillus favus. Among the endophytic fungi isolated from L. toxicaria rhizome, the LTRH2, LTRO1, and LTRH1 showed conspicuous growth inhibition against all the Gram-positive bacteria tested. In vitro nematicidal activity of these endophytic extracts showed signifcant mortality to Haemonchus contortus frst instar larva. Among the isolates of L. toxicaria, LTRH2 induced mortality to H. contortus larva with an LC50 of 2.03 mg/ml and LTRO1 with an LC50 of 3.67 mg/ml. The extracts of KMPRO2 and KMPRH1 also showed similar results with an LC50 of 2.63 and 2.44 mg/ml, respectively. high-performance liquid chromatography mediated polyphenol profling of these extracts revealed the presence of many phenolic molecules common in both the crude rhizome extract and the endophyte extracts of the respective plants. These fungal extracts are, therefore, recommended for further study as a novel source of phytochemicals with good biological activity. 1. INTRODUCTION Plants do not live alone as single entities rather closely associated with the microorganisms that reside both externally and, especially with those living internally [1]. Multiple microbial communities such as bacteria, archaea, and fungi reside inside healthy plant tissues without producing any prominent disease or clinical symptoms in their host can be considered as endophytes [2]. They devote their entire life or a part of the life cycle in the symplast or apoplast region of healthy plant tissues [2,3]. Endophytes contribute to the overall growth, development, ftness, and diversifcation of plants [1]. They provide enhanced competitive abilities, increased resistance to herbivores, pathogens, and various abiotic stresses that negatively affect the health and survival of their host [4]. Endophytes are now considered as a repository of novel bioactive natural compounds. There are several recent studies which illustrate the importance of endophytes as a new reserve of antibacterial and other bioactive molecules [5,6]. Over 8,600 bioactive metabolites of fungal origin have been described and it was also reported that they are able to make the same secondary metabolites as the host plant itself [4,7]. The Lagenandra toxicaria Dalz. is a semi-aquatic herb that belongs to the Family Araceae, and is an important ingredient in the folklore treatment modalities. It is used in the preparations of ointments for skin itch, renal and bilious complaints [8]. The L. toxicaria rhizomes and roots were also reported to be diuretic, carminative, tonic, and also used for wound healing. Its rhizomes have also shown insecticidal and antimicrobial properties [9,10]. Another plant under investigation, Kaempferia rotunda L., belongs to the Family Zingiberaceae is commonly known as peacock ginger (Bhuichampaka in Sanskrit), is a fragrant aromatic herb with tuberous rhizome. The plants of the Zingiberaceae Family have been widely used in dietary cuisines and in traditional oriental medications [11]. The K. rotunda extracts are known to contain diverse secondary metabolites such as favonoids, favonols, stigmasterol, chalcones, quercetin, β-sitosterol, syringic acid, and protocatechuic acid [12–14]. Several recent studies have also endorsed the fact that K. rotunda possesses a wide range of *Corresponding Author Leyon Varghese, Immunology and Toxicology Research Lab, Department of Zoology, Christ College (Autonomous), Irinjalakuda, India. E-mail: leyon@christcollegeijk.edu.in © 2021 Krishnakumar, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License -NonCommercial-ShareAlike Unported License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/).