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Fungal Endophytes from Medicinal Plants as a Potential Source of Bioactive Secondary Metabolites and Volatile Organic Compounds: An Overview

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Book cover Endophytes and Secondary Metabolites

Part of the book series: Reference Series in Phytochemistry ((RSP))

Abstract

In this chapter, we provide a general overview of secondary metabolites, especially easily volatilized molecules, namely, VOCs, isolated and identified from endophytic fungal communities of different medicinal plants. A fungal endophyte spends the whole or part of its life cycle colonizing inter- and/or intracellularly inside the healthy tissues of the host plants, causing no apparent symptoms of disease. Endophytic fungi produce a wide array of secondary metabolites and volatile organic compounds with important biological functions, displaying a broad range of useful antibiotic and pharmaceutical activities as well as immunomodulatory and toxic activities. Some of their biological activities are still unknown to mankind. These microbial metabolites have drawn enormous attention as potential agents of medicinal properties. Fungi are well known for emitting a complex mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Fungal VOCs commonly form a bioactive interface between plants and numerous microorganisms. Fungi emit plethora of unique volatile compounds that belong to a number of chemical classes including alcohols, aldehydes, acids, ethers, ketones, hydrocarbons, terpenes, and sulfur compounds. VOCs are gases, carbon-based compounds having characteristic odors, and are produced during primary and secondary metabolism. The diverse functions of fungal VOCs can be used in biotechnological applications as biofuel, biocontrol, and mycofumigation.

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Acknowledgments

I, Humeera Nisa, would like to thank my research supervisor and mentor, Prof Azra N. Kamili, Head/Director, Department of Environmental Sciences/CORD, University of Kashmir, for her precious attention, valuable suggestions, and constant encouragement throughout the course of my PhD investigations. Only at her first rendezvous with me during the initial period of my MPhil study, several years ago, she foresaw my amateur scientific instincts. And now this work of ours is another effort to work deeper with the fungal endophytes.

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  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India

    Humeera Nisa & Azra N. Kamili

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  1. Humeera Nisa
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Correspondence to Humeera Nisa .

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  1. Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

    Sumita Jha

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Nisa, H., Kamili, A.N. (2019). Fungal Endophytes from Medicinal Plants as a Potential Source of Bioactive Secondary Metabolites and Volatile Organic Compounds: An Overview. In: Jha, S. (eds) Endophytes and Secondary Metabolites. Reference Series in Phytochemistry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90484-9_29

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