Fungi, eukaryotic organisms with a kingdom of their own, include microorganisms
from moulds and yeasts to the most known and appreciated mushrooms.
The incredible biodiversity of these organisms is not limited to their morphology but
is reflected in their chemistry, namely in the variety of compounds they produce.
Therefore, like other living beings, fungi can be an excellent source of bioactive
compounds.
Although they may be primary metabolites, fungal bioactive compounds are
mainly produced through secondary metabolism. These compounds have an essential
role in the fungal survival and adaptation to almost all habitats on earth. Besides,
they can also exert beneficial effects on human health, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial,
anti-UV radiation, or even anti-inflammatory or antitumor activity. Given
the wide bioactivity of the molecules produced, fungi have become, over time, an
exciting source of compounds with possible application in various industries,
including the food, pharmaceutical, or cosmetics industries.
Fungal secondary metabolites are mainly produced via acetyl-CoA and via the
shikimate pathway. Even though it is possible to find in the literature some different
classifications regarding secondary metabolites of fungi, in this manuscript, we
define polyketides, non-ribosomal peptides, terpenoids, and indole alkaloids as the
main structural classes.
The present chapter will present a brief introduction to fungal secondary metabolism,
including some examples of the most well-known compounds and their principal functions in ecosystems. The biosynthetic pathways of the main classes of
fungal secondary metabolites will also be depicted.
