The Potential of Fungal Endophytes in Plants: Sources of Bioactive Compounds.

Natural interaction among the endosymbiont microorganisms specifically fungi with plants have been noticed with a great utility. It has been observed that there is presence of fungal endophytes in most of the plant tested for isolation of endophytic association. Such fungi have received attention recently due to their capacity to produce several unique bioactive chemicals that were previously unknown to biological systems. These endophytes could be an important source of secondary metabolites that can be explored for discovery of novel compounds which can be used as medicine or growth enhancers of plants or animals. The secondary metabolites from endophytic fungi have been reported for their antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, and antidiabetic activity and offer protection against pathogens and pests and improve plant survival during the stress. The current review article highlights the significance of biologically active substances obtained from fungal diverse endophytes associated with plants.