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Bioactive Molecules of Endophytic Fungi and Their Potential in Anticancer Drug Development

  • Natural Products: From Chemistry to Pharmacology (C Ho, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Endophytes such as bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes are play significant role in the production of bioactive metabolites and plant defence mechanisms. These endophytes develop asymptomatically in the inner tissues and cells of the host plant without causing any symptoms. But studies are ongoing on endophytic fungi, since many of the mycoflora endophytes are unstudied as well as widespread and highly diverse. Endophytic fungi are a large source of different types of metabolites that can be used for the treatment of various types of diseases and manufacture of drugs in the pharmaceutical industries. Recent studies have shown that endophytic fungi, through their alternative biochemical pathway in the host, and produce some anticancer compounds.

Recent Findings

The production of novel anticancer compounds by endophytic fungi can help to reduce the amount of anticancer compounds extracted from plants and also help to reduce the loss of plant biodiversity. As per observation, every plant examined to date has a flora of at least one endophyte and, in the case of woody plants, more than a hundred species of endophytic fungi may be present in different parts of the plant. Endophytic fungi are the best producer of many bioactive anticancer compounds, such as taxol, podophyllotoxin, camptothecin and their derivatives.

Summary

The present review focuses on biosynthesis of anticancer bioactive compounds from endophytic fungi. Furthermore, it explains the mechanism of action of the anticancer compounds and their application.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bio-Design Innovation Centre, Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur, 482001 (M.P.), India

    Suneel Kumar & Sardul Singh Sandhu

  2. Department of Botany, Rajabhoj Government College, Katangi, Balaghat, 481445 (M.P.), India

    Ravindra Prasad Aharwal

  3. Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Harisingh Gour University, Sagar, 470 003 (M.P.), India

    Roshni Jain

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The authors declare that this review work on anticancer compounds was done by the authors and all liabilities on claims relating to the content of this article will be borne by them. Suneel Kumar and Ravindra Prasad Aharwal contributed equally to this work and should be considered as co-first authors.

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Kumar, S., Aharwal, R.P., Jain, R. et al. Bioactive Molecules of Endophytic Fungi and Their Potential in Anticancer Drug Development. Curr Pharmacol Rep 7, 27–41 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40495-021-00251-y

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