Fungal endophytes reside within tissues or between cells of living plants. These fungal endophytes protect their hosts through the production of secondary metabolites that can deter pathogens and herbivores. The continuous search for new...
moreFungal endophytes reside within tissues or between cells of living plants. These fungal endophytes protect their hosts through the production of secondary metabolites that can deter pathogens and herbivores. The continuous search for new drugs brought about by the reemergence of infectious diseases and the rise of antimicrobial resistance and cancer cases has led natural product researchers to tap these fungal endophytes as potential sources of biologically active compounds. This is best exemplified by the discovery of the anticancer drug, taxol, from fungal endophytes associated with the Pacific yew Taxus. In this paper, we highlighted studies that documented the diversity and biological activities of fungal endophytes associated with terrestrial plants, mangroves, macroalgae, and seagrasses collected from Indonesia, the Philippines, and other countries. It is estimated that Indonesia is home to 10% of the world’s known plant species, while the Philippines has 5% of the world’s flora and about 820 species of macroalgae. These represent vast hosts for the isolation of many potentially novel fungal endophytes. This chapter therefore serves as a springboard for further exploration of plant- and seaweed-associated fungi in the Southeast Asian region for drug discovery programs.
