Exploring the Endophytic Fungal Species Associated with the Medicinal Plant Chromolaena odorata from Manipur, India

Natural products are the major sources of bioactive compounds with vast applications in medicine, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food industry, textile industry, and cosmetic industry. Chromolaena odorata is a medicinal plant that possesses several therapeutic properties, including antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antioxidant, and has been used in traditional medicine by different ethnic groups in various parts of the world. Study on distribution, diversity, antifungal activity and biochemical analysis of endophytic fungi is the primary focus of this chapter. In this study, endophytic fungi were isolated from the leaves, stems, roots, and inflorescence of C. odorata and identified based on morphological properties. Nineteen sporulating endophytic fungi belonging to 9 genera were obtained. The highest Isolation rate was found in the stem part (34.75%); the highest overall Colonization frequency (%) was shown by Chaetomium globosum (8.51%); the maximum Infection rate was found in root segments (77.86%); and the maximum number of isolates belong to Sordariomycetes, showing 43.50%. The highest degree of diversity was recorded in the leaf part having Simpson’s diversity value of 0.99. Petri plate dual culture antifungal activity has shown that all the sporulating isolates possess antifungal properties. The qualitative biochemical analysis reveals that all the endophytic fungi produce flavonoids and phenols. This indicates that endophytic fungi are a storehouse of natural compounds. Exploring the diverse potential of endophytic fungi through research on their biological activities and secondary metabolites using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Nuclear magnetic resonance are promising areas for future scientific investigation.