LAUSR

The present study aimed at screening nine soil fungi isolated from Puttaparthi, India for their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Isolate (SSS-8), with notable antioxidant and antibacterial activities was identified as Periconia sp. using ITS gene sequence and morphology. The crude culture extract of SSS-8 obtained by growing the fungus in Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB) for 14 days at 30 °C and 120 rpm, exhibited DPPH free radical scavenging potential of about 89.62% at 1 mg/mL concentration. SSS-8 also showed promising antibacterial activity against bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and moderate activity against Enterococcus faecalis using disk diffusion method at 25 mg/mL concentration. Chemical profiling of the crude culture extract of SSS-8 was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Some of the major compounds identified such as 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, 1-tetracosanol, 2-phenylethanol, p-menthan-3-one are known to be antibacterial compounds and compounds such as methyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate, 1-octadecene, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, 1-tetracosanol are potential antioxidative agents. In conclusion, soil fungus Periconia sp. (SSS-8) could be explored as an effective producer of antioxidant and antibacterial compounds for utility in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.