bioactivity of mycoendophytes isolated from medicinal plants growing in different geographical egyptian habitats

Fifty-four endophytic fungal species were isolated from 10 medicinal plants growing on different geographical egyptian habitats; 48 of them were morphologically identified, at least to genus level and all belonged to ascomycetes. ethanolic extracts of 49 isolates were screened for their antibacterial activities against three gram-positive and three gram-negative bacteria; they were also screened for their antifungal activities against candida albicans and fusarium solani. twenty-six isolates showed antibacterial activities at least against one tested bacterial strain and seven isolates showed antibacterial activities against both gram-negative and -positive bacteria. moreover, cytotoxicity of these extracts were tested against one normal cell line mrc-5 and another cancer cell line mcf-7 using mtt assay. it was found that a group of seven isolates exerted a reduced toxicity towards the normal cell line, but had a higher toxic effect on the cancer cell line. these isolates represent a promising source for anticancer compounds with low cytotoxicity against the normal cell lines.