The objective of the present study was to isolate Actinobacteria, preferably Streptomyces spp. from the rhizosphere soils of three ethno-medicinal plants collected in Serbia (Papaver rhoeas, Matricaria chamomilla, and Urtica dioica) and to screen their antifungal activity against Candida spp. Overall, 103 sporulating isolates were collected from rhizosphere soil samples and determined as Streptomyces spp. Two different media and two extraction procedures were used to facilitate identification of antifungals. Overall, 412 crude cell extracts were tested against Candida albicans using disk diffusion assays, with 42% (43/103) of the strains showing the ability to produce antifungal agents. Also, extracts inhibited growth of important human pathogens: Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida glabrata. Based on the established degree and range of antifungal activity, nine isolates, confirmed as streptomycetes by 16S rRNA sequencing, were selected for further testing. Their ability to inhibit Candida growth in liquid culture, to inhibit biofilm formation, and to disperse pre-formed biofilms was assessed with active concentrations from 8 to 250 μg/mL. High-performance liquid chromatographic profiles of extracts derived from selected strains were recorded, revealing moderate metabolic diversity. Our results proved that rhizosphere soil of ethno-medicinal plants is a prolific source of streptomycetes, producers of potentially new antifungal compounds.
Keywords: Antifungal activity; Ethno-medicinal plants; Screening; Soil isolates; Streptomyces.