In view of health effects of pollution related with chemical fertilizers and pesticides, interest has increased to find alternative green methods of fertilization and control of pests. Fungal endophytes (endobionts) can be defined as the microfungi living within the tissues of plant without causing them probable disease symptoms. Endophytic fungi play an important role in the growth promotion and resistance to various biotic and abiotic stresses and diseases in plants. They also produce useful compounds as phytohormones, antimicrobial compounds, and many agrochemical bioactive metabolites. These endophytes hold huge potential to be used as safe and cost-effective alternative to chemical pesticides and fertilizers in view of their wide range of plant growthpromoting activities. The present review article describes the role of endophytic fungi in the agriculture sector.

The antibacterial activity of bisacodyl and its deacetylated metabolite, DDPM was investigated against Gram-positive pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 9144), Micrococcus luteus (LB14110), Salmonella enterica (NCTC 6017) with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 12.5 to 25 µg/mL, 6.25 to 12.5 µg/mL and 25 to 50 µg/mL respectively. The results of antibacterial activity against Gram-negative foodborne Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 9027), Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739), show MIC values between 12.5-25 μg/mL and 25-50 μg/mL. The antifungal activity was also evaluated against the opportunistic pathogenic yeast Candida albicans (ATCC 2091) with MIC ranging from 12.5 to 25 µg/mL. Furthermore, the anticancer activity was evaluated against epithelial cervical cancer cell line (ATCC, Manassas,VA, USA). The results obtained indicated that bisacodyl and its deacetylated metabolite, DDPM have a cytotoxic activity at 63.69 µg/mL and 16.7 µg/mL respectively.

The antibacterial activity of a series of functionalized arylbenzothiazoles was investigated against Gram-positive pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 9144), Micrococcus luteus (LB14110), Salmonella enterica (NCTC 6017) and Gram-negative foodborne Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 9027), Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739). The antifungal activity was also evaluated against the opportunistic pathogenic yeast Candida albicans (ATCC 2091). The results displayed that these compounds exhibit a good antimicrobial activity compared with fusidic acid. The structure-antimicrobial activity relationships are also discussed.