Abstract
Bacterial endophytes produce a broad variety of secondary metabolites that may be used in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Bacterial endophytes exist symbiotically within host plants. The bacterial endophytes, Pantoea sp. strain MHSD2 and Bacillus paranthracis MHSD3 isolated from Pellaea calomelanos and Bacillus strain MHSD16 isolated from Dicoma anomala, were assayed for bioactive cosmetic potential. The evaluations included antimicrobial activity against bacterial pathogens which are problematic in the cosmetic industry. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory activities of the three bacterial endophytes were determined followed by the identification of bioactive secondary metabolites through gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS). Although the strains did not exhibit antimicrobial activity against bacterial strains, anti-inflammatory bioactivity was observed. Plasticisers such as diisoocytl phthalate were identified from the Bacillus strain MHSD16 while eastman 168 and dibutyl phthalate were identified in the Pantoea sp. strain MHSD2, pain reliever; dihydroergotamine was found in all the bacterial endophyte strains, and surfactants; chloroethanol and tridecane were identified in the two Bacillus strains, all these were some of the identified compounds of interest for the cosmetic industry. The enzymes expressed were superoxide dismutase, catalase and they exhibited bromelain activity.