Highlights of biological activities, secondary metabolites, and Chaetomium morphology

• Tove Faber Frandsen

  English

  Author

Many researchers are interested in the use of microbial secondary metabolites in general and fungal metabolites in
particular in various biotechnology fields because of their bioactive qualities, which have led to their use in
pharmaceutical, industrial, and agricultural fields. Microorganisms known as fungal endophytes reside inside the tissues
of living plants without causing any harmful effects [1–4]. In general, endophytes are abundant in new, physiologically
active natural substances that have amazing therapeutic potential. Endophytic fungi have recently produced amazing
pharmacological compounds [5, 6]. Endophytes have been shown to contain more than 50% of hitherto unidentified
physiologically active compounds [7]. Endophyte-derived biopharmacological secondary metabolites have a variety of
antibacterial, anticancer, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory properties [8]. Chaetomium, an endophytic fungus, is a great
model that is employed as a biotechnological tool in many different domains. Known for producing secondary
metabolites with essential biological functions, Chaetomium species are heterothallic fungi that are primarily found in
soil and organic compost. More recently, they have been isolated from coral, soft coral, and marine algae. [9–14].
Chaetomium isolates have been shown to produce a number of antifungal compounds and to exhibit a variety of
antagonistic mechanisms against other disease fungi [15, 16]. Chaetomium globosum Kunze Fr., for instance, has been
found to be a promising biocontrol agent against a variety of plant diseases [17].
Highlights of the biology, ecology, description, and secondary metabolites of Chaetomium species were included in this
review.

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