MACROLACTONES AND MACROLIDES FROM PLANT ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI, CHEMICAL SCAFFOLDS, BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES AND SPECTROSCOPY: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Background: The pandemic of COVID-19 has stressed the exaggerated demand for innovative treatments, prompting the search for new sources. Plant endophytic fungi produce a diverse array of biologically active compounds, including macrolides and macrolactones with varying activities. Aim of the Study: In this review we give an updated overview of natural macrolides and macrololactones from plant endophytes addressing original studies published up to June 2023. Results: Over the preceding ten years, 91 macrolides with 80 novel compounds with cytotoxic, antibacterial, antifungal, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Unfortunately, the number of novel chemicals identified from marine or bacterial endophytes in the same period is substantially lower. Accordingly, further study on plant endophytes, which are critical for drug research and the development of novel medicines, including antitumors, antivirals, antibacterials, and antimalarials, should be conducted.