Therapeutic potential and metabolite profiling of fungal endophytes from Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

Endophytic fungi associated with Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal represent a promising source of bioactive compounds, some of which may be identical to or distinct from those produced by the host plant. However, their metabolic diversity and therapeutic potential, influenced by geography and environment, remain underexplored. The crude extracts of the fungal endophytic isolates were tested for their antioxidant activity, antidiabetic potential and anti-inflammatory efficacy by established biochemical assays. When compared with other endophytic isolates, namely W2P, W1R, W2S, W1L and W2LA, W2LB consistently showed the highest activity in phosphomolybdenum and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, suggesting substantial antioxidant potential. Endophytic isolate W1L, on the other hand, demonstrated the highest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and high anti-inflammatory activity. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequencing identified two potent fungal endophytic isolates, W1L and W2LB as Daldinia korfii and Diaporthe perseae. The extract’s liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) profiling revealed a broad range of phenolics, terpenoids, alkaloids, alkanes, fatty acids and other pharmaceutically significant compounds. This study adds to the diversity of fungal endophytes associated with W. somnifera by identifying less frequently found species, including D. perseae, D. korfii and indicates that the endophytes of W. somnifera enhance the phytochemical diversity of their host, contributing to anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and antioxidant activities. Hence, the experiment supports further purification and analysis for drug development.