Fungi-Derived Natural Products with Anticancer Activity
Abstract
There is considerable promise for bioactive natural products present in fungi. It is estimated that there are 1.5 million fungal species worldwide, but only a small fraction has been studied. They have produced secondary metabolites with anticancer, antibacterial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. Beta-lactam antibiotics, statins, cyclosporins, and strobilurin-derived compounds are all produced by major fungal groups, such as Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Zygomycota. A number of metabolites also serve as scaffolds for semi-synthetic drugs with potent properties. In view of their remarkable chemical diversity and biological activity, fungi remain a rich and promising source of anticancer drugs. Despite the immense yet untapped potential of fungi as a source of bioactive metabolites, this brief review highlights their potential as an anticancer source. As a result of consolidating existing knowledge about key fungal groups and their pharmacologically relevant secondary metabolites, this article demonstrates the value of fungi derived compounds as scaffolds for future drug development. The overview aims to guide ongoing research on leveraging fungal biodiversity to develop innovative anticancer drugs.
