African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12487

Full Length Research Paper

The antibacterial activity of bacterial endophytes isolated from Combretum molle

Mamonokane O. Diale
  • Mamonokane O. Diale
  • Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein Campus, South Africa.
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Eunice Ubomba-Jaswa
  • Eunice Ubomba-Jaswa
  • Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein Campus, South Africa.
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Mahloro H. Serepa-Dlamini
  • Mahloro H. Serepa-Dlamini
  • Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein Campus, South Africa.
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  •  Received: 30 November 2017
  •  Accepted: 26 January 2018
  •  Published: 21 February 2018

Abstract

Although intense research has gone into the exploration of various Combretaceae species towards the discovery of therapeutic relevant compounds, their endophytes have never been explored as potential repositories of alternative sources of novel and medically beneficial equivalents. In the present study, five bacterial endophytes (Lysinibacillus, Staphylococcus, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas and Bacillus species) were isolated from different parts (hard stem, leaves and soft stem) of Combretum molle and identified to species level using morphological data and sequencing of the 16S rRNA. Four of the five endophytes showed varying degrees of antimicrobial characteristics against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Key words: Bacterial endophytes, bioactive compounds, Combretum molle, phylogenetic analysis, medicinal plant.