Enzymatic activity of fungi endophytic on five medicinal plant species of the pristine sacred forests of Meghalaya,India

Fungal species that establish an endophytic role inside the tissues of medicinal plants are known to produce a wide range of biologically active metabolites and enzymes. In the present study, the most dominant and representative endophytic fungal species of five ethno-medicinal plants prevalent in the pristine sacred forests of Meghalaya, were screened for their ability to produce amylase, cellulase, protease, lipase, and xylanase. Each of endophytic fungal isolates showed a wide range of enzyme activity. Mycelial biomass generation and root colonization, in addition to the enzyme activity of the endophytic fungal isolates, provided insights into their probable origin and ecological roles within the plant host.