Bioactive steroids from marine-derived fungi: a review (2015-2023)

Marine fungi, rich in unique secondary metabolites with diverse activities, are a valuable source for novel lead compounds. Steroids, a prominent class of bioactive compounds from marine fungi, have been extensively studied for their diverse pharmacological properties. This review describes the structural diversity, bioactivities, and sources of 175 marine fungal steroids (2015-2023), mainly from Aspergillus, Penicillium, Talaromyces, etc., in seaweed, mangroves, sediments, and marine animals like sponges and corals. Among them, 74 steroids exhibit antibacterial, antitumor, enzyme inhibitory, antiviral, and other activities, providing valuable leads for steroid drug development and advancing marine pharmaceutical research.