Anticarcinogenic Properties of Metabolites Extracted from Endophytic Fungi: A Review of the Literature

Rivera-Cazaño C.V.; Diaz-Blas P.A.; Quiñones-Laveriano D.M.; Villar-Lopez M.I. · Natural Resources for Human Health (2025) · DOI: 10.53365/nrfhh/203181

Resumen

In the field of research into new cancer treatment alternatives, compounds from natural sources are being explored, such as endophytic fungi which have significant potential because of their fast growth and low-cost scalable production. Mechanisms of action of metabolites produced are not completely clear. A search strategy on PubMed was based on a research PICOT question searching research papers between 2015 and 2024 in english or spanish. 197 papers were obtained and 67 articles remained eligible after the selection process. Different endophytic producing fungi were recorded, active compounds were classified on tables according to their cytotoxicity shown by each cell line. The most commonly used cell lines were the cervical cancer cell line HeLa, as well as the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2. Studies evaluated in the present review were mostly exclusively in vitro and up to seven mechanisms of action were explained. Our review coincides with the presence of these mechanisms of action and it is hoped that the routes proposed by previous research may favor the search for anticancer treatments in the near future. Although it is true that we were able to extract exhaustively the articles related to the subject, studies with more databases that can complete the vision of endophytic fungi in anticancer management are required. Several of the compounds evaluated have outperformed the results of chemotherapy-related drugs, so it is expected that several of them can continue with the next phases to obtain better therapies against cancer.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; Universidad Científica del Sur