Bioactive compounds from tree endophytes
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| Authors | | Top |
- Fischer, J.
- Schüffler, A.
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| Abstract |
Endophytes are organisms that live at least parts of their life cycle asymptomatically within the plant tissue. Endophytic fungi include symptomless living fungi as well as latent pathogens and dormant saprophytes. The estimated high species diversity of endophytes and their adaptation to various plant habitats represents a rich and almost untapped source of new secondary metabolites (SM), some of which might become useful leads for pharmaceutical or agricultural applications. Forests are large reservoirs for fungal diversity, covering 30.3% of Earth’s land area. This chapter focuses on bioactive natural compounds, which were isolated from tree and shrub endophytes described since 2011 (follow-up of previous edition). Furthermore, an overview is given on research efforts on pharmaceutically significant plant compounds produced by endophytic fungi, namely: taxol, camptothecin, podophyllotoxin and derivatives as well as ginkgo terpene trilactones, rohitukine, piperine and azadirachtin. In addition, recent literature on endophytes and the biological activity of their extracts and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is cited. |
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