Title:Recent Advances in the Discovery of Antiviral Metabolites from Fungi
Volume: 23
Issue: 4
Author(s): Sunil K. Deshmukh*, Shivankar Agrawal, Manish Kumar Gupta, Rajesh K. Patidar and Nihar Ranjan
Affiliation:
- TERI-Deakin Nano Biotechnology Centre, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Darbari Seth Block, IHC Complex,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi, 110003, India
Keywords:
Marine fungi, endophytic fungi, mushrooms, fungal secondary metabolites, antiviral metabolites, viruses, H1N1, HIV, SARS.
Abstract: Abstract: As the world manages the impact of a global pandemic caused by COVID-19, the discovery
of new antiviral agents has become way more relevant and urgent. Viruses are submicroscopic infectious
agents that replicate inside the living cells of different organisms. These viruses use nucleic acids (both
DNA and RNA) for further replication and maturity inside the cells. Some of the viruses responsible for
various human and plant diseases belong to the classes of Picornaviridae, Retroviridae, Orthomyxoviridae,
Flaviviridae, Pneumoviridae, Virgaviridae, and Hepadnaviridae, and their treatment options are limited
or non-existent. The consistent reemergence and resistance development in the viral strains demand
the discovery and development of new antiviral drugs possessing better efficacy. Bio-active compounds
isolated from fungi can be the source of new compounds with enhanced potency and new mechanisms of
action. Fungi are known to produce a diverse lot of secondary metabolites due to their existence in harsh
and testing climates which are often inhabitable for many organisms. Because of these unique environments,
fungi produce a variety of secondary metabolites of different chemical classes like alkaloids, quinones,
furanone, pyrones, benzopyranoids, xanthones, terpenes, steroids, peptides, and many acyclic compounds.
Fungal metabolites are known to display a wide range of bioactive attributes, i.e., anticancer,
antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-Alzheimer's, along with antiviral properties. In this review article, we
report over 300 antiviral compounds from fungal sources during the period of 2009 to 2019. The source
of these compounds is marine and endophytic fungi and they are arranged based on their antiviral action
against different viral families. These compounds offer promise for their use and development as future
antiviral drugs.