Chemistry and biology of Pestalotiopsis-derived natural products

Abstract

Species within the fungal genus Pestalotiopsis have become a topic of research in many microbial-chemical and pharmacological laboratories because they contain structurally complex, biologically active metabolites. This article is a follow-up to a previous review (Xu, Ebada, and Proksch, Fungal Divers 44:15–31, 2010). It focuses particularly on new findings concerning the chemistry and bioactivity of Pestalotiopsis sp., covering a period ranging from August 2010 to August 2013. Some 160 metabolites were isolated from Pestalotiopsis species during this period and their structures are reported within a biogenetic context. Bioassays showed antitumor, antifungal, and antimicrobial activities to be the most notable bioactivities of secondary metabolites isolated from this genus. The biogenetic pathways associated with the alkaloids, sesquiterpenes, quinines, xanthones, and lactones covered in this review are highlighted.