Antimicrobial activity and enzymatic analysis of endophytes isolated from Codonopsis pilosula

Abstract The roots of the medicinal plant Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf (C. pilosula) possess most medicinal supplements. In current research on C. pilosula root endophytes were isolated, identified, and evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against human pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the fungi Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Endophytes C.P-8 and C.P-20 exhibited very significant antimicrobial activity, the secondary metabolite of C.P-8 registered at retention time 24.075 by HPLC analysis. Significant minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of C.P-8 was exhibited at 250 µg/ml against S. aureus and 500 µg/ml against B. subtilis. Qualitative, quantitative analyses, and partial purification of enzymes and purity was analysed by molecular weight determined by SDS‒PAGE of enzymes produced by C.P-20, amylase—64 kDa, protease—64 kDa, chitinase—30 kDa, and cellulase—54 kDa. Optimum pH and temperature of the partially purified enzymes, was carried out. The partially purified enzymes from C.P-20 displayed maximum activity at pH 6–7 and temperatures of 40°C–45°C. Moreover, the above endophytes will be useful tools for producing active enzymes and active bioantimicrobial agents against human pathogens. Endophytes of Codonopsis pilosula and their potentiality to produce antimicrobial secondary metabolites and enzymes.