Evaluation of Tyrosinase Producing Endophytic Fungi from Calotropis gigantea, Azadirachta indica, Ocimum tenuiflorum and Lantana camara

Aims: The present study focuses on evaluation of tyrosinase producing endophytic fungi from Calotropis gigantea, Azadirachta indica, Ocimum tenuiflorum and Lantana camara.
Place and Duration of the Study: The present study was conducted at centre for Scientific Research and Development People’s Group Bhanpur, Bhopal India during January 2011 to December 2012.
Methodology: The endophytic fungi were isolated from leaves, root and stem of Calotropis gigantea, Azadirchta Indica, Ocimum tenuifloram and Lantana camara and cultured on malt extract agar. Isolates were evaluated for tyrosinase production qualitatively and quantitatively on modified Czapex Dox’s agar.
Results: Out of fifty isolates, twenty seven isolates showed tyrosinase production in agar plate assay. It was observed that endophytes isolated from Azadirachta indica and Ocimum tenuiflorum has higher production of extracellular tyrosinase in comparison with Calotropis gigantea and Lantana camara.
Conclusion: Phylum basidiomycete is considered to be the prominent source of tyrosinase. This finding indicates that the endophytic fungi are also a promising source and are more suitable for large scale productions.