Natural products from endophytic microorganisms

J Nat Prod. 2004 Feb;67(2):257-68. doi: 10.1021/np030397v.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / chemistry*
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacteria / chemistry
  • Biological Products / chemistry*
  • Biological Products / pharmacology*
  • Fungi / chemistry
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / chemistry*
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / chemistry*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Insecticides / chemistry
  • Insecticides / isolation & purification*
  • Molecular Structure

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Biological Products
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Insecticides