Abstract
World population growth and modernization have engendered multiple environmental problems: the propagation of humans and crop diseases and the development of multi-drug-resistant fungi, bacteria and viruses. Thus, a considerable shift towards eco-friendly products has been seen in medicine, pharmacy, agriculture and several other vital sectors. Nowadays, studies on endophytic fungi and their biotechnological potentials are in high demand due to their substantial, cost-effective and eco-friendly contributions in the discovery of an array of secondary metabolites. For this review, we provide a brief overview of plant–endophytic fungi interactions and we also state the history of the discovery of the untapped potentialities of fungal secondary metabolites. Then, we highlight the huge importance of the discovered metabolites and their versatile applications in several vital fields including medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, industry and bioremediation. We then focus on the challenges and on the possible methods and techniques that can be used to help in the discovery of novel secondary metabolites. The latter range from endophytic selection and culture media optimization to more in-depth strategies such as omics, ribosome engineering and epigenetic remodeling.
Highlights
The 21st century is distinguished by a huge increase in population growth, modernization and consumerism [1,2]
In-depth studies of endophytic fungi enhance the knowledge of their potential for the production of novel effective secondary metabolites, which are called bioactive compounds and natural products [4]
Bioactive secondary metabolites are natural organic and low-molecular-weight compounds synthesized by almost all microorganisms and used as a means of defense against external aggressions [46,47]
Summary
The 21st century is distinguished by a huge increase in population growth, modernization and consumerism [1,2]. Endophytes are conventionally known as microbes existing 2inofall plant endospheric tissues (roots, shoots, fruits, leaves, flowers, seeds, etc.) without causing harmful consequences to the host plant [14,15,16,17]. These microorganisms are usually more abundant in roots and to they transferred and vertically [18]. Million species worldwide [19,20] These eukaryotic organisms are known to harbor endophytic fungi constitute an extremely large community, reaching up to three milliona large variety of secondary valuable to mankind, plants the aenvironment. Challenges and possible solutions in the discovery of novel bioactive compounds
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