Discovery of anti‐microbial and anti‐tubercular molecules from Fusarium solani: an endophyte of Glycyrrhiza glabra

Aims Glycyrrhiza glabra is a high‐value medicinal plant thriving in biodiversity rich Kashmir Himalaya. The present study was designed to explore the fungal endophytes from G. glabra as a source of bioactive molecules. Methods and Results The extracts prepared from the isolated endophytes were evaluated for anti‐microbial activities using broth micro‐dilution assay. The endophytic strain coded as A2 exhibiting promising anti‐bacterial as well as anti‐tuberculosis activity was identified as Fusarium solani by ITS‐5.8S ribosomal gene sequencing technique. This strain was subjected to large‐scale fermentation followed by isolation of its bioactive compounds using column chromatography. From the results of spectral data analysis and comparison with literature, the molecules were identified as 3,6,9‐trihydroxy‐7‐methoxy‐4,4‐dimethyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐1H‐benzo[g]isochromene‐5,10‐dione (1), fusarubin (2), 3‐O‐methylfusarubin (3) and javanicin (4). Compound 1 is reported for the first time from this strain. All the four compounds inhibited the growth of various tested bacterial strains with MIC values in the range of