Structures and Biological Activities of Secondary Metabolites from Xylaria spp.

Abstract

The fungus genus <i>Xylaria</i> is an important source of drug discoveries in scientific fields and in the pharmaceutical industry due to its potential to produce a variety of structured novel and bioactive secondary metabolites. This review prioritizes the structures of the secondary metabolites of <i>Xylaria</i> spp. from 1994 to January 2024 and their relevant biological activities. A total of 445 new compounds, including terpenoids, nitrogen-containing compounds, polyketides, lactones, and other classes, are presented in this review. Remarkably, among these compounds, 177 compounds show various biological activities, including cytotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, immunosuppressive, and enzyme-inhibitory activities. This paper will guide further investigations into the structures of novel and potent active natural products derived from <i>Xylaria</i> and their potential contributions to the future development of new natural drug products in the agricultural and medicinal fields.