Diversity of Culturable Bacteria from Endemic Medicinal Plants of the Highlands of the Province of Parinacota, Chile

SIMPLE SUMMARY: An increasing diversity of bacteria with medically relevant biological properties is being discovered in natural environments where extreme physical conditions can select for unique chemistry. This research has allowed us to discover, in the desert region of the Chilean highlands in the province of Parinacota (3681–5104 m high), bacterial strains that live in the roots of an Aymara medicinal plant with impressive biological activities, such as hydrolytic enzymes, plant-growth-promoting traits, and antibacterial and antifungal properties. These discoveries have great value for society and medicine and should be further investigated for the benefit of global public health. ABSTRACT: Endemic medicinal plants that grow at altitudes in northern Chile have been traditionally used for therapeutic applications by Aymara doctors. Several studies have analyzed the biological properties of these plants for therapeutic purposes. The aim was to characterize at molecular and biochemical levels the bacteria that live in the rhizosphere and roots from endemic medicinal plants that grow between 3681–5104 m.a.s.l. in the province of Parinacota. Thirty-nine bacteria were isolated from nine medicinal plants under our laboratory conditions. These bacteria were characterized by Gram stain, hydrolase production, plant-growth promotion, anti-fungal and antibacterial activities, and 16S rDNA sequencing. A phylogenetic study revealed the presence of three major phyla, Actinomycetota (46.2%), Bacillota (43.6%), and Pseudomonadota (10.3%). The rhizobacteria strains associated with the Aymara medicinal plant exhibited several interesting biological activities, such as hydrolytic enzymes, plant-growth-promoting traits, and antibacterial and antifungal properties, indicating their potential for developing new bio-based products for agricultural or clinical applications. These results are promising and highlight the need to point toward the search for explanations of the bio-molecular basis of the therapeutic effects of medicinal plants.