Abstract
M.Tech. (Biotechnology)
This study was conducted to characterise and explore endophytic microorganisms present in Cichorium intybus. And it further provides significant insight into the antimicrobial and phytochemical properties of this plant. This is a plant commonly used in traditional medicine for its benefits including its ability to treat diarrhoea and to purify the liver amongst other benefits stated in literature. While it is also a commercial crop grown worldwide for nutritional purposes. The plant contains a number of bioactive compounds and these compounds have potential as primary resources in many applications for drug discovery, agriculture and in industrial uses. A total of five bacterial endophytes were isolated from the chicory roots and morphologically characterised as well as identified to their species and genus level through the acquisition of their conserved 16S rRNA gene sequence. All five of the bacterial isolates belong to the Bacillaceae family and genus Bacillus. In total, three strains were isolated. And two of those strains were further identified as Bacillus cereus strain TR11, and one was identified as Bacillus cereus strain BC2. Two of the other isolates were identified as Bacillus thuringiensis strain PWI-A4 and Bacillus pumilus strain 2xWM-ARB08.
Phytochemical analysis of the plant material was performed qualitatively to evaluate the presence of various secondary metabolites. The results revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides in the roots and the leaves extract also contained all the above mentioned secondary metabolites along with steroids. Quantitative phytochemical analysis of the plant material was performed with a powerful analytical technique called comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) coupled to time-of-flight mass spectral analysis (TOFMS) in an effort to quantify and identify the presence of bioactive compounds from the root and leaf. GCxGC-TOFMS provided two separation mechanisms for extended peak resolution capacity of the identified bioactive compounds (LECO, St. Joseph, MI, USA). From the root a total of 18 compounds were identified and from the leaf 19 compounds were identified, all these compounds have known biological activities.
Antimicrobial analysis of the plant material was performed to evaluate antimicrobial activity of the plant root and leaf against various Gram negative and positive bacterial species. Based on the obtained antimicrobial results, the chicory leaves provided prominent antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus...