L-Asparaginase and antioxidant activity of endophytic bacteria associated with ethnomedicinal plants

Abstract

The present investigation was aimed at assessing production of L-asparaginase by endophytic bacteria, associated with ethnomedicinal plants of North-east India, keeping in view their relevance as anticancer agents. In recent years, microbial asparaginases have drawn particular interest because of their potential antineoplastic properties and significant application in food industries. Among the endophytes, Serratia marcescens cenA, Bacillus subtilis cenB, B. methylotrophicus PotA and B. siamensis C53 produced significant level of L-asparaginase. Their enzyme activity was determined at different incubation periods and the maximum L-asparaginase activity was noted in the culture filtrate of endophytic S. marcescens cenA (0.8579 IU.mL -1 ), followed by B. methylotrophicus PotA (0.8379 IU.mL -1 ) at 96 h. The study also revealed that endophytic bacteria had good antioxidant properties, with S. marcescens cenA showing the highest activity (IC50=17±0.013 mg.mL -1 ).