Natural Products from Endophytic Microorganisms

Abstract

Endophytic microorganisms are to be found in virtually every plant on earth. These organisms reside in the living tissues of the host plant and do so in a variety of relationships ranging from symbiotic to pathogenic. Endophytes may contribute to their host plant by producing a plethora of substances that provide protection and ultimately survival value to the plant. Ultimately, these compounds, once isolated and characterized, may also have potential for use in modern medicine, agriculture, and industry. Novel antibiotics, antimycotics, immunosuppressants, and anticancer compounds are only a few examples of what has been found after the isolation and culturing of individual endophytes followed by purification and characterization of some of their natural products. The prospects of finding new drugs that may be effective candidates for treating newly developing diseases in humans, plants, and animals are great. Other applications in industry and agriculture may also be discovered among the novel products produced by endophytic microbes.

(4S)-4,8-dihydroxy-1-tetralone and other chemical constituents from Pestalotiopsis sp. EJC07, endophytic fromBauhinia guianensis

“…In the tropical and temperate forests, covering only 1.44% of the terrestrial surface, there are approximately 300,000 (three hundred thousand) plant species so far analyzed, home to more than 60% of the world biodiversity (Strobel et al 2004). As a result, the opportunity to fi nd new microorganisms and producers of bioactive compounds for agriculture, industry and medicine has increased the bioprospection of this microbiota of great importance in biotechnology (Strobel 2002).…”

Two phytotoxic azaphilone derivatives fromChaetomium globosum, a fungal endophyte isolated fromAmaranthus viridisleaves

“…Endophytic fungi occupy millions of unique biological habitats that are subjected to different environmental interactions and are considered to be a source of rare and important bioactive plant metabolites which may be suitable for medical and for agricultural applications. A range of secondary metabolites, bio-synthesized via various metabolic pathways, have been isolated from endophytic fungi and these metabolites show a broad spectrum of biological activities (Strobel 2002, 2004; Strobel et al 2004). In a continuation of our studies towards the search for bioactive compounds from Sri Lankan flora, we studied the chemistry and bioactivity of secondary metabolites produced by endophytic fungi from Amaranthus viridis (Amaranthaceae).…”

Molecular profiling and antimicrobial potential of endophyticGliomastix polychromaCLB32 inhabitingCombretum latifoliumBlume

“…In recent decades, endophytic fungi from plants have been widely accepted as major sources of drugs. A large number of bioactive compounds with new structures are continuously being isolated from endophytes (Strobel et al 2004). They are strongly considered as largely unexploited metabolic resources.…”