Harnessing Fungal Endophytes for Plant and Human Health

Abstract

Endophytic fungi reside inside the healthy tissues of plants. Expansion of the world population has increased the health problems in human and plant and drug resistance in pathogens. Endophytic fungi have the ability to benefit plant growth, metabolism and defense against pathogens, herbivores, insects, etc. They can produce various potential commercially valued secondary metabolites. This has generated worldwide interest among the researchers to study and exploit them for applications in pharmacy and agriculture. Extensive research has led to the discovery of endophytic fungi which provides a great source of medicine for therapeutic applications in human and plant protection under adverse conditions. Secondary metabolites isolated from endophytes possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic activities. It is believed that screening for antimicrobial compounds from endophytes is a promising way to overcome the increasing threat of drug resistant strains of human and plant pathogen. In this review, many important, well-studied areas regarding endophytic fungi and their potential secondary metabolites are presented. Metabolomics and metagenomics of fungal endophytes have also been described. This source of noble compound (secondary metabolites) would bring the endophytic fungi to light to be utilized in the field of pharmacy and agriculture. Metagenomics of endophytes is very important now a day to study the diversity of the endophytic fungi in its environment because all endophytes are not culturable from the host.