Endophytic fungi bioactivity

There are a number of recent reviews of endophytes, both bacterial and fungal, and their secondary metabolism that would provide the interested reader with further details and background. Among these are the excellent reviews concerning the interaction between the endophyte and the host, as well as those that specifically address the bioactive natural product production by endophytic fungi.The latter collectively list over 330 different compounds produced. To the extent that is reasonable, I have chosen not to repeat the information in these recent reviews, but to summarize their findings (Table 1). This review will address the information from the more recent literature and, insofar as is known, details of biosynthesis. 

Table 1. Bioactive fungal products from endophytic fungi in recent literature reviews. The compounds include antifungal, antibacterial, antimycobacterial, antiviral, nematicidal, cytotoxic, antineoplastic, antioxidant, antiinsectant, antifeedant, antidiabetic, herbicidal, algicidal, specific en mie inhibitory, and immunomodulatory activities. 

The discovery that several major anticancer drugs, originally isolated from plants, are produced by associated endophytic fungi (Section III.B.3.) opens up further avenues for exploring the large-scale production of plant-derived pharmaceuticals. Likewise, the probable role of microbial symbionts in the production of bioactive agents from marine macroorganisms (Section III.B.4.) offers... 

Although yew-associated endophytic fungi were originally collected to identify potential taxol producers, this was an excellent opportunity to examine such a population for other bioactive secondary metabolites. Fungi have long been valued for their ability to produce compounds... 

Bioactive constituents from toxic seed plants in China 13RCA10078. Bioactive natural compounds from the plant endophytic fungi Pestalo-tiopsis spp. 12MRM1382. 

Zhao J, Zhou L, Wang J, Shan T, Zhong L, Liu X, Gao X (2010) Endophytic fungi for producing bioactive compounds originally from their host plants. In Mendez-Vilas A (ed) Current research, technology and education topics in applied microbiology and microbial... 

L. (2011) Plant-derived bioactive compounds produced by endophytic fungi. Mini Rev. Med. Chem., 11, 159-168. 

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