ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIALS OF ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI FROM BANANA (Musa spp) PEEL AND PULP

Banana is an edible fruit and herbaceous flowering plant belonging to genus musa and family musaceae.Banana is a source of natural antioxidants and has good antimicrobial potential. Banana Peel is nutritional and rich in phytochemical compounds than its pulp. Characterization of the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of endophytic fungi extracted from banana peel and pulp is the main purpose of this study.The banana fruit sample was collected from dingete locality Gemechis ditrict West Harargie zone, Ethiopia. Banana (Musa sapientum L) was taken from Dingete locality to Haramaya Uiversity and lab conducted at biological sciences and biotechnology labortatory.The endophytic fungal species were isolated and identified according to microscopic observation. Five endophytic fungal species (Candida spp, Cladosporium spp, Fusarium spp, penicillium spp and alternaria spp ) were isolated based on macro and microscopic observation. The endophytic fungal metabolites were extracted using methanol as extraction solvent. The antioxidant activity was tested based on the determination of phenolic content DPPH and hydrogen peroxide free radical scavenging activities. The antimicrobial experiment was conducted via five endophytic fungal extracts from banana fruit peel and pulp, using Methanol as extraction solvent, and four test phatogens including 2 bacteria: Escherichia coli (gram negative), Staphylococcus aureus (gram positive), two fungi: Aspergillus versicolor and A. niger completely randomized factorial design in three replications. Significantly the highest DPPH free scavenging activity was recorded for banana peel indicating that the banana peel has relatively demonstrated highest antioxidant activity. The antimicrobial activity with the highest concentration of the fungal extract (200mg/ml) presented the strongest antibacterial activity with maximum zone of inhibition (20.83mm) recorded for peel extract against Staphylococcus aureus. The fungal extract from peel showed strongest antibacterial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (2.3425mg/ml) and corresponding minimum bactericidal concentration (6.25mg/ml) against S.aureus. The strongest antifungal activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (0.78mg/L) and corresponding minimum fungicidal concentration (0.585mg/L) was recorded for peel extracts against Aspergillus.niger. Illustrating physical and chemical properties and antioxidant activity of endophytesfrom peel and pulp banana fruit and is crucial in providing necessary information for the utilization of the endophytic content.