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TL;DR
The central conclusion is that these fungi are a promising source of novel compounds for potential pharmaceutical applications, though direct clinical evidence is lacking.
Microbial Cell Factories · 10 authors, 1 centre
This summary was generated by AI from a single paper. It has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not clinical advice. Verify against the source before acting on it.
The central conclusion is that these fungi are a promising source of novel compounds for potential pharmaceutical applications, though direct clinical evidence is lacking.
This narrative review summarizes the literature on bioactive compounds from endophytic fungi. The authors describe these fungi as ubiquitous in plant tissues and capable of producing diverse secondary metabolites, including terpenes, alkaloids, and polyketides. The review categorizes reported biological activities of these compounds or extracts, such as antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, and antioxidant effects, citing numerous preclinical studies. Methods for enhancing metabolite production, including the OSMAC and co-culture strategies, are discussed. The review concludes that endophytic fungi represent an important and underexplored resource for discovering new bioactive molecules to address human health challenges like antimicrobial resistance.