Laboratory culture and bioactive natural products of myxomycetes

Myxomycetes, one of the lowest classes of eukaryote (true slime molds), are an unusual group of primitive organisms. Their life cycle consists of two stages, namely the free-living plasmodium and the fruiting body with unique structures and colors. The chemical studies on the secondary metabolites of the myxomycetes are limited due to a lack of understanding of their laboratory cultivation. In this review, 93 natural products from myxomycetes, including their chemical structures and bioactivities were described. We also provided a conceptual overview over five culture methods of myxomycetes, including moist chamber culture, feeding culture, pure culture, liquid culture and hanging drop culture.