Abstract

• Isolation of endophytic fungi was done by surface sterilization procedure from Cucurbiticeae family, Mormordica charantia L. (Kyet-hinga), Cephalandra indica Naud. (Kinmon), Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl. (Bu) and Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb. (Hkawe). Agar well diffusion method was used for assay performance with ten kinds of test organisms. All isolated fungal strains showed antimicrobial activity except MZF-8, 11, 12, 13 and 15. Among them fungus MZF-2 isolated from Momordica charantia L. was screened for further investigations based on the results of maximum inhibition against Candida albicans NITE 09542. Different fermentation parameters were studied and included fermentation period, inoculum size, effect of various carbon sources and nitrogen sources, fermentation media, pH, temperature and agitation condition. 5th day and 4% size were found to be optimum time period of fermentation and inoculum size. In the growth of carbon sources, MZF-2 were excellent growth on corn and potato as well as malt extract showed the excellent result for nitrogen sources. Maximum antifungal activity was obtained when fermentation medium was supplemented with carbon source as glucose and peptone as nitrogen source. Concerntration of fermentation medium (FM-7) ingredients like each 1.0 g peptone, glucose and sucrose proved to be the best fermentation medium. And maximum bioactive metabolite productions occur in pH of 6, temperature at 25˚C and shaking culture with 100rpm speed.