ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FUNGAL ENDOPHYTIC FRACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAVES OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LAM. FOR IN VIVO HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY IN CCl4 INDUCED RATS

The study of endophytes among the various microbial systems develops into a significant area of research for its significance in agriculture and medicine.Endophytes are tiny organisms that coexist symbiotically with robust plant tissues to live there.The goal of the study was to isolate, characterize, and screen the fungal extracts for in vitro antioxidant and in vivo hepatoprotective activity from the leaves of Moringa oleifera.One fungal endophyte, designated as MOL-1, was isolated and fermented to produce chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol, (MOLC, MOLEA, MOLnB) extracts.In vitro free radical scavenging activity was carried by 2, 2-diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl radical and reducing power.MOLEA and MOLnB showed significant free radical scavenging activity.MOLEA and MOLnB (50 & 100 mg/kg) reversed the increased biochemical parameters such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum alkaline phosphate (SALP), total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin, as compared to CCl4 induced group (***p<0.0001).MOLEA and MOLnB (100 mg/kg p.o) also restored the lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels.Endophytic extracts showed liver protection and can be