Fungal Bioactive Metabolites of Pharmacological Relevance

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About this Research Topic

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Background

Introduction

Fungi have been seen as a treasure hunt for potential therapeutics. During the past decades, several novel compounds with diverse biological activities have been identified and isolated from fungi. Since the discovery of the fungi-derived penicillin and related antibiotics, fungi have continued to be pivotal in the search for novel molecules and pharmacophores. The kingdom Fungi is subdivided into Basidiomycota (mushrooms and toadstools), Ascomycota (the cup fungi and flask fungi), Zygomycota (mostly microscopic species, the pin molds with coenocytic hyphae), Oomycota (the water molds and some important pathogens such as potato blight), Deuteromycota (Alternaria, Aspergillus, Penicillium, etc.) and Microsporidiomycota (spore-forming unicellular parasites). Each of these phylum/class/species has well-developed secondary metabolism (SM), which has been explored as sources of pigments, enzymes, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals. Studies of fungal metabolites have traditionally been focused on two main areas: pharmaceutical and agronomical. Examples of pharmacology-relevant fungal metabolites include antibiotics (penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, griseofulvin, caspofungin),cholesterol-lowering statins (lovastatin, pravastatin), immunosuppressants (cyclosporine A, mycophenolic acid), anti-migraine ergot alkaloids, among others. Most fungi studies are focused on the late-diverging fungal phyla (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota), while other phyla remain mostly un-investigated. Largely well-studied for their biologically active compounds is edible and medicinal mushrooms. Another group of fungi that has been a focus of interest is endophytic fungi, particularly those that grow in marine habitats. Other groups that have been investigated fungi for their biological activities include tree-pathogens, which are plant pathogenic fungi with various ecological roles (white-rot fungi, soft-rot fungi, blue-stain fungi, and insect-symbionts).

While the proportion of synthetic pharmacologic agents in new drug discovery remains significant, naturally sourced pharmacological agents are still widely depended upon for therapeutics. Secondary metabolites from fungi represent an underexplored source when compared to plant-derived secondary metabolites. In the past, traditional medicinal mushroom uses lead to the discovery of an alternative source of medicines. Fungal metabolites may also serve as a chemical basis for modification and generation of semi-synthetic drugs for therapeutic use.


Goal

This Research Topic aims to highlight the scientific updates and advancements in the research of pharmacological actives from fungi, including studies on derivatives of fungi at various stages of discovery/development as potential therapeutic agents.

Under this Research Topic, we welcome contributions on the ethnomedicinal/ethnopharmacological uses of fungal extracts, studies investigating the potential therapeutic effects of fungal metabolites on different disease states using various models – in vitro, in silico or animal models. Topics on clinical medicinal uses, dosing, kinetics, receptor characterization, toxicokinetics, biotransformation, and related pharmacology are welcome.


Scope

Our Research Topic will be focused on the following subtopics, but not limited to:

• Pharmacological activities of fungi-derived formulas and compounds.
• Novel bioactive secondary metabolites from fungi with potential application to treat human diseases.
• Pharmacokinetics of fungi-derived metabolites.
• Receptor characterization/interaction of fungi-derived metabolites.
• Antimicrobial activity of fungal extracts/isolates/metabolites.
• Toxicology/ toxicokinetics of fungi-derived metabolites.
• Immunostimulating/ immunosuppressing effects of fungi-derived metabolites.
• Influence of fungal extracts/products on drug-metabolizing enzymes (drug interaction with fungal derivatives).
• Effect of fungal derivatives on cell-lines (anti-cancer potentials).
• Clinical evaluation of the effect of fungal derivatives in various diseases.

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To contribute to this Research Topic you can submit to either:
- Ethnopharmacology, or
- Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Discovery.
Please carefully consider the section where you submit your manuscript, as manuscripts must fit the scope of the section you are submitting to. See the "About" tab of the participating sections for more details.

All the manuscripts submitted to Ethnopharmacology will be peer-reviewed and need to fully comply with the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology (you can freely download the full version here).

Keywords: Drug discovery, mushroom, fungi, bioactive metabolites, fungal pharmacology, bioactive compounds, endophytic fungi

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