Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Potential and Berberine Production from Endophytic Populations of Medicinal Plant Berberis aristata

Endophytes isolated from medicinal plants are a valuable source of antimicrobial agents, owing to their capacity to harbor a wide array of bioactive compounds. Indian berberry, also known as Berberis aristata , has long been used in traditional medicine. The plant was selected for the isolation of fungal and bacterial endophytes. A total of 174 endophytes were isolated, of which 112 were fungal and 62 were bacterial. 10 fungal isolates and 6 bacterial isolates were selected for antimicrobial potential. Fungal endophyte FBL-5 and bacterial endophyte BBL-13 were found to have the greatest antimicrobial activity. The growth and synthesis of an antibacterial compound by these endophytes using a batch culture method were optimized. FBL-5 was identified as Talaromyces verruculosus , and BBL-13 was identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia . An HPLC study showed that FBL-5 and BBL-13 also produce Berberine, which is used commercially in several formulations in the health sector. For the first time, a study examined the capacity of the plant's bacterial endophytes to produce berberine and their antibacterial activity. These results suggest that endophytes from B. aristata could be a promising reservoir of biologically active secondary metabolites with potential applications in the pharmaceutical sector and as a means to conserve medicinal plants that are frequently exploited for drugs and are endangered.