Cytotoxic Compounds Derived from Marine Algicolous and Spongicolous Endophytic Fungi: A Review

Abstract

Endophytes have gained particular interest in the search of potential pharmaceutical candidates for a
long time due to their diversity, species richness and bioprospecting nature. They generally produce the essential
metabolites for their expansion inside the plant which is involved in various biotransformation processes of utilizing
host nutrients and cell components to continue microbial growth, sustenance, and reproduction. In above processes,
they produce a huge amount of both structurally and functionally diverse secondary metabolites for maintaining an
effective symbiosis with hosts. These compounds are proven to have significant bioactive properties like
antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, antitumor activities. Despite the proven
significance, a little is exploited so far about endophytes. Particularly marine fungal endophytes which are the centre
of attention in this review have gained much less importance. Due to unique environmental feature, fungal
endophytes derived from marine environment offer vast diversity in different bioactive secondary metabolites. This
review has focused on algicolous endophytes and bioactive secondary metabolites discovered during the last two
decades. Particular importance has been given to cytotoxic and antimicrobial metabolites. Due to intensive studies
during last several years, an extensive number of publications are now available on cytotoxic compounds derived
from endophytic fungi of marine algicolous and spongicolous origin that have been summarized in this review.