• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.303-310
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• 2015

The increasing emergence of lead drugs for the resistance produced by the pathogenic strains and arrival of new diseases have initiated the need for searching novel metabolites with best anticancer and antimicrobial properties than the existing one. With this view, the investigation was conducted for the isolation, identification, and biological evaluation of potential endophytic fungi of Aegle marmelos, a medicinal tree used for more than three decades, for curing various disorders. A total of 169 endophytic fungal strains obtained from sampling and among those 67 were pigmented strains. Upon antagonistic screening, five endophytic fungal strains exhibited antagonistic potentiality by inhibiting the pathogens. These five potent strains were characterized at molecular level by sequencing the amplified internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 and ITS 4 regions of rDNA and they were grouped under order Pleosporales, Eurotiales, and Capnodiales. The metabolites from the respective strains were produced in fungal culturing media and extracted using polar solvents. Further, the extracts of five endophytes manifested antimicrobial activity against tested clinical pathogens and Alternaria alternata (FC39BY), Al. citrimacularis (FC8ABr), and Curvularia australiensis (FC2AP) exhibited significant antimicrobial profile against 9 of 12 tested pathogens, showing broad spectrum activity. The antioxidant levels of all the five endophytes revealed the highest activity at least concentrations, and major activity was unveiled by the members of order Pleosporales FC2AP and FC8ABr. This research explains the value of endophytic fungal extracts and its significance of antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.

• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.231-235
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• 2012

Fungal endophytes are microfungi that live in plants without causing apparent symptoms of infection. This study was conducted to identify endophytic fungi isolated from leaves of coniferous trees in Bohyeon Mountain of Korea. We collected leaves of two species of coniferous trees, Pinus densiflora and Pinus koraiensis, from 11 sites in the study area. A total 58 isolates were obtained and identified using molecular and morphological characteristics. Four species of endophytic fungi were isolated from P. densiflora: Lophodermium conigenum, Leotiomycetes sp., Septoria pini-thunbergii, and Polyporales sp., while two fungal species were isolated from P. koraiensis: Eurotiomycetes sp. and Rhytismataceae sp. The most frequently isolated species were L. conigenum and S. pini-thunbergii.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.205-211
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• 2018

Fungal endophytes are defined as fungi inhabiting plant tissues, causing no apparent disease. As the agricultural and ecological importance of endophytes has increased, many studies have been performed on various aspects, ranging from basic identification, taxonomy, and evolution to secondary metabolites with potential for human use. In the Korean Peninsula, conifers are the most commonly found evergreen trees, with approximately 30 to 60 reported taxa. Studies on the effect of conifer-associated endophytes on the host plants are required for the preservation and conservation of coniferous forests which decline by climate change and deforestation. This review summarizes the diversity of endophytic fungi in coniferous trees of Korea and their relationship with host plants.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1342-1347
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• 2009

We have isolated endophytic fungi from the Indian yew tree, Taxus baccata, and then screened for taxol production. Out of the 40 fungal cultures screened, one fungus Gliocladium sp. was found to produce taxol and 10-DABIII (10-deacetyl baccatin III). These compounds were purified by TLC and HPLC and characterized using UV-spectroscopy, ESI-MS, MS/MS, and proton NMR. One liter of Gliocladium sp. culture yielded $10\;{\mu}g$ of taxol and $65\;{\mu}g$ of 10-DABIII. The purified taxol from the fungus showed cytotoxicity towards cancer lines HL-60 (leukemia), A431 (epidermal carcinoma), and MCF-7 (breast cancer).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.622-629
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• 2010

Biosynthetic studies on brasiliamides, potently convulsive and bacteriostatic compounds from an endophytic Penicillium brasilianum isolated from Melia azedarach (Meliaceae), confirms their phenylpropanoid origin, which is very uncommon in fungi. Feeding experiments with [$2-^{13}C$]-phenylalanine indicated the incorporation of two units of this amino acid on brasiliamide structures. The first step in the phenylpropanoid pathway to those compounds was evaluated through enzymatic bioassays and confirmed the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) participation. The metabolism of phenylalanine in this fungus is discussed.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.217-221
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• 2016

Endophytic fungi have yielded a variety of secondary metabolites so far. In the course of the project to find bioactive secondary metabolites from cultures of endophytic fungi, an isolate of Arthrinium phaeospermum (JS 0567) was selected for chemical investigation. A large scale culture of this strain in rice media was extracted with an organic solvent and the extract was subjected to a serious of chromatography, which led to six metabolites. Their chemical structures were elucidated as 2,3,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1-methylxanthone(1), 2,3,4,6,8-pentahydroxy-1-methylxanthone(2), 3,4,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1-methylxanthone(3), 3,6,8-trihydroxy-1-methylxanthone(4), 2,4,2',4',6'-pentahydroxy-6-methylbenzophenone(5), and 5,7-di hydroxy-3-methylphthalide(6) on the basis of spectroscopic data. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the secondary metabolites from Arthrinium phaeospermum.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.10-27
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• 2020

Endophytes are defined as microorganisms that spend part of lifetime interior of plant tissues without causing negative effects. They have been used for agricultural purpose, biofuel production, bioremediation, medication, etc. In particular, endophytes have been emerged as a good source for bioactive secondary metabolites. A large number of secondary metabolites are currently being reported. In this report, we focus on the secondary metabolites that were originated from endophytic fungi inhabiting medicinal plants. They were classified into several groups such as nitrogenous compounds, steroids, sulfide-containing metabolites, terpenoids, polyketides, and miscellaneous for discussion of chemical structures and biological activities.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.174-177
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• 2014

We investigated the biodiversity of endophytic fungi isolated from leaves of three coniferous species (Pinus densiflora, P. koraiensis, Larix kaempferi) on Mt. Minjuji, Korea. A total of 39 isolates were discovered from 17 host plants and their homology with the ITS region was searched. They were then identified as 22 taxa; 64% of fungal isolates belong to Sordariomyetes, 33% of isolates to Leotiomycetes, and 3% isolates to Agaricomycetes.

• Mycobiology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 2011

The phylogenetic relationships of the most dominant and morphologically cryptic endophytic fungal isolates from each of five selected medicinal plants, namely Potentilla fulgens, Osbeckia stellata, Osbeckia chinensis, Camellia caduca, and Schima khasiana of the biodiversity rich state of Meghalaya, were assessed with random amplification of polymorphic DNA and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles. Sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 1, small subunit rRNA and partial ${\beta}$-tubulin gene fragments was also conducted to determine the phylogenetic relationships of these isolates with fungal sequences available in Genbank, NCBI. The identity of the fungal isolates is suggested based on the molecular phylogenetic data.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.832-837
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• 2012

The oxidative potential of the fungus Penicillium brasilianum, a strain isolated as endophytic from a Meliaceae plant (Melia azedarach), was investigated using 1-indanone as substrate to track the production of monooxygenases. The fungus produced the dihydrocoumarin from 1-indanone with the classical Baeyer-Villiger reaction regiochemistry, and (-)-(R)-3-hydroxy-1-indanone with 78% ee. Minor compounds that had resulted from lipase and SAM activities were also detected. The biotransformation procedures were also applied using a collection of Penicillium and Aspergillus fungi obtained from M. azedarach and Murraya paniculata. The results showed that Baeyer-Villiger were mostly active in fungi isolated from M. azedarach. Almost all fungi tested produced 3-hydroxy-1-indanone.