The Cytotoxic Properties of Extreme Fungi's Bioactive Components-An Updated Metabolic and Omics Overview

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Fungi are a diverse group of organisms with vast potential for discovering natural medicinal products.
• Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality, and current treatments face challenges like toxicity and drug resistance.
• Natural products from microorganisms, including fungi, show established cytotoxic properties beneficial for cancer therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and consolidate findings on fungi-derived bioactive metabolites with antitumor properties.
• To group these metabolites based on biological activity and type, focusing on extremophilic and extremotolerant fungi.
• To emphasize the potential of these natural compounds in cancer treatment and the role of omics technologies in discovery.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific studies identifying fungi-derived antitumor metabolites.
• Classification of identified secondary metabolites by biological activity and fungal origin (extremophilic/extremotolerant).
• Discussion on the application of omics tools and genome mining for novel metabolite identification.

Main Results:

• Extremophilic and extremotolerant fungi yield diverse bioactive metabolites with significant antitumor potential.
• These compounds offer a promising avenue for developing novel cancer treatments with potentially reduced toxicity.
• Omics technologies and genome mining are crucial for identifying new metabolites for targeted cancer therapies.

Conclusions:

• Fungi, particularly those from extreme environments, are a rich source of anticancer compounds.
• These natural products hold immense therapeutic value for cancer treatment, potentially overcoming existing limitations.
• Continued research and innovative approaches, including omics, are essential for unlocking the full potential of fungi in oncology.