Evaluation of the bioactivities of extracts of endophytes isolated from Taiwanese herbal plants

The endophytic extracts from 19 endophytes, isolated from 13 species of Taiwanese plants, were evaluated for biological activity, including cytotoxicity, anti-platelet aggregation, and anti-inflammatory activity. The extracts of 12 endophytes exhibited inhibitory effects on collagen-induced platelet aggregation with IC ₅₀ values of 19.85-87.64 μg/ml. Four strains, Rahnella aquatilis, Pantoea agglomerans, Rhodotorula sp., and Penicillium paxilli, also showed inhibitory effects on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation with IC ₅₀ values of 42.80-61.54 μg/ml. Additionally 12 extracts of endophytes exhibited cytotoxicities with IC ₅₀ values of 0.12-19.83 μg/ml. However, eight extracts revealed inhibitory effects on superoxide anion generation induced by fMLP (N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine) in human neutrophils. The extract of Rahnella aquatilis showed anti-platelet aggregation activity, and bioassay-directed fractionation led to the isolation of six compounds, including one isoalloxazine: lumichrome (1); two isoflavones: genistein (2) and daidzein (3); two cyclic peptides: cyclo-Pro-Val (4) and cyclo-Pro-Phe (5); and one benzenoid: methyl 2,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (6). These results indicated that endophytes from Taiwanese herbal plants could be useful sources for research and development of bioactive lead compounds from nature.