In the present study, an attempt to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of fungal endophytes inhabiting Emblica officinalis has been made keeping in view the medicinal importance of the selected host plant in Indian traditional practices. A total of four endophytic fungi belonging to Phylum Ascomycetes were isolated from different parts of the plant which were characterized morphologically and by using rDNA-internal transcribed spacer. The most frequently isolated endophyte was Phomopsis sp. The antioxidant activity by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and reducing power assay, and total phenol were evaluated using ethanolic extract of endophytic fungi. DPPH activities in all the ethanolic extract increased with the increase in concentrations. Endophytes, Phomopsis sp. and Xylaria sp. showed highest antioxidant activity and also had the higher levels of phenolics. Antimicrobial activity of fungal extract were tested against four bacteria namely, Escherichia coli MTCC730, Enteroccocus faecalis MTCC2729, Salmonella enterica ser. paratyphi MTCC735 and Streptococcus pyogenes MTCC1925, and the fungus Candida albicans MTCC183. In general, the fungal extracts inhibited the growth of test organisms except E. coli.
Ascomycota ; Bacteria ; Biphenyl Compounds ; Candida albicans ; Endophytes ; Escherichia coli ; Ethanol ; India ; Phenol ; Phyllanthus emblica ; Picrates ; Plants ; Salmonella enterica ; Streptococcus pyogenes

Objective: Serum melatonin, a biomarker of circadian rhythm, can upregulate Growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) which is involved in neural regeneration and plasticity. The present study was conducted to investigate the adequacy of the first-line antipsychotic drugs to improve sleep and circadian rhythm disruptions by assessing the effect of haloperidol and risperidone on serum melatonin and GAP-43 in schizophrenia. Methods: In this cohort study, 100 schizophrenic patients were recruited, and clinical evaluations were done using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). The patients with predominantly positive symptoms taking haloperidol (Group I) and patients with predominantly negative symptoms taking risperidone (Group II) were admitted and serum melatonin, arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase, GAP-43 and urinary melatonin were estimated. After 8 weeks, all clinical and biochemical parameters were repeated. Results: Serum melatonin (2:00 hours) was significantly decreased in both haloperidol (2.42; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.67−4.17; p = 0.008) and risperidone group (3.40; 95% CI: 0.54−6.25; p = 0.021). Urinary melatonin was significantly decreased in both haloperidol (p = 0.005) and risperidone group (p = 0.014). PSQI score was significantly increased in both haloperidol (p = 0.001) and risperidone group (p = 0.003). Serum GAP-43 was significantly decreased in both haloperidol and risperidone group (p ＜ 0.001). PANSS decreased significantly in both the groups and there was a significant negative correlation between serum melatonin at 2:00 hours and PANSS (r = −0.5) at baseline. Conclusion Monotherapy with haloperidol and risperidone can achieve symptomatic improvement but cannot improve sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances in schizophrenia.