Fungal Endophytes: Microfactories of Novel Bioactive Compounds with Therapeutic Interventions; A Comprehensive Review on the Biotechnological Developments in the Field of Fungal Endophytic Biology over the Last Decade

Aditi Gupta, Vineet Meshram, Mahiti Gupta, Soniya Goyal, Kamal A. Qureshi, Mariusz Jaremko, Kamlesh Kumar Shukla

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

The seminal discovery of paclitaxel from endophytic fungus Taxomyces andreanae was a milestone in recognizing the immense potential of endophytic fungi as prolific producers of bioactive secondary metabolites of use in medicine, agriculture, and food industries. Following the discovery of paclitaxel, the research community has intensified efforts to harness endophytic fungi as putative producers of lead molecules with anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, cardio-protective, and immunomodulatory properties. Endophytic fungi have been a valuable source of bioactive compounds over the last three decades. Compounds such as taxol, podophyllotoxin, huperzine, camptothecin, and resveratrol have been effectively isolated and characterized after extraction from endophytic fungi. These findings have expanded the applications of endophytic fungi in medicine and related fields. In the present review, we systematically compile and analyze several important compounds derived from endophytic fungi, encompassing the period from 2011 to 2022. Our systematic approach focuses on elucidating the origins of endophytic fungi, exploring the structural diversity and biological activities exhibited by these compounds, and giving special emphasis to the pharmacological activities and mechanism of action of certain compounds. We highlight the tremendous potential of endophytic fungi as alternate sources of bioactive metabolites, with implications for combating major global diseases. This underscores the significant role that fungi can play in the discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents that address the challenges posed by prevalent diseases worldwide.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1038
JournalBiomolecules
Volume13
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 25 2023

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2023-07-12
Acknowledgements: A.G. is thankful to Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, C.G. India for providing Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University Research Scholarship 2020-21. K.S. is thankful to the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) for sponsoring the project no. BT/PR29526/FcB/125/16/2018. MJ would like to acknowledge the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia for financial support.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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