Endophytes are the plant-associated microorganisms that live within the living tissues of their host plants without causing any harm to them. Almost all groups of microorganisms have been found in endophytic association with plants may it be fungi, bacteria or actinomycetes. They stimulate the production of secondary metabolites with a diverse range of biological activities. They have been known to produce enormous variety of strange and wonderful secondary metabolites, some of which have profound biological activities that can be exploited for human health and welfare. Some of the endophytic microorganisms can produce the same secondary metabolites as that of the plant thus making them a promising source of novel compounds. During the present investigation, endophytes were isolated for the first time from the symptomless leaves, stem, fruits and roots of the four selected ethnomedicinal plants. The ethnomedicinal angiosperms include Digitalis lanata (wooly foxglove), Digitalis purpurea (purple foxglove), Plantago ovata (psyllium/isabgol), Dioscorea bulbifera (air potato). A total of one hundred and thirty two isolates of microbial endophytes were isolated. Dioscorea bulbifera belongs to the dioscoreaceae family and the rest belong to the plantaginaceae family. The major constituents of these plants belong to the steroidal and iridoid family of secondary metabolites, having enormous applications in the medicinal/pharmaceutical arenas.
