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Journal Article Review Ppublish 5 citations

PubMed: 39907846 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-024-05098-9

An Update of Fungal Endophyte Diversity and Strategies for Augmenting Therapeutic Potential of their Potent Metabolites: Recent Advancement.

Appl Biochem Biotechnol 197(5):2799-2866

Authors: Chandrabhan Prajapati, Sachchida Nand Rai, Anurag Kumar Singh, Balu A Chopade, Yashveer Singh, Santosh Kumar Singh, Shafiul Haque, Miguel Angel Prieto, Ghulam Md Ashraf

Affiliations

  • Centre of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
  • Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, 221005, India.
  • AKS University, Satna, Madhya Pradesh, 485001, India.
  • Department of Statistics, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
  • Centre of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
  • Research and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Jazan University, 45142, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
  • Nutrition and Bromatology Group, Analytical and Food Chemistry Department. Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Vigo, Ourense Campus, E-32004, Ourense, Spain.
  • Department of Biosciences and Bioinformatics, School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, 111 Ren'ai road, SIP, Jiangsu Province, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China.

Abstract

Endophytic fungi represent a significant renewable resource for the discovery of pharmaceutically important compounds, offering substantial potential for new drug development. Their ability to address the growing issue of drug resistance has drawn attention from researchers seeking novel, nature-derived lead molecules that can be produced on a large scale to meet global demand. Recent advancements in genomics, metabolomics, bioinformatics, and improved cultivation techniques have significantly aided the identification and characterization of fungal endophytes and their metabolites. Current estimates suggest there are approximately 1.20 million fungal endophytes globally, yet only around 16% (190,000) have been identified and studied in detail. This underscores the vast untapped potential of fungal endophytes in pharmaceutical research. Research has increasingly focused on the transformation of bioactive compounds by fungal endophytes through chemical and enzymatic processes. A notable example is the anthraquinone derivative 6-O-methylalaternin, whose cytotoxic potential is enhanced by the addition of a hydroxyl group, sharing structural similarities with its parent compound macrosporin. These structure-bioactivity studies open up new avenues for developing safer and more effective therapeutic agents by synthesizing targeted derivatives. Despite the immense promise, challenges remain, particularly in the large-scale cultivation of fungal endophytes and in understanding the complexities of their biosynthetic pathways. Additionally, the genetic manipulation of endophytes for optimized metabolite production is still in its infancy. Future research should aim to overcome these limitations by focusing on more efficient cultivation methods and deeper exploration of fungal endophytes' genetic and metabolic capabilities to fully harness their therapeutic potential.

MeSH

Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Biomedical Engineering, Endophytes, Research, Therapeutics, Anthraquinones

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