This paper reviewed the diversity of endophytic fungi and their interactions with medicinal plants, along with the research methodologies utilized to investigate these interactions. It mainly includes the diversity of endophytic fungi, as well as distribution diversity, species diversity, and the diversity of their metabolites and functions, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, insecticidal, antioxidant capabilities, and so on. The research methodologies employed to investigate the interactions between endophytic fungi and medicinal plants are categorized into metagenomics, transcriptomics, metatranscriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Furthermore, this study anticipates the potential applications of secondary metabolites derived from endophytic fungi in both medicine and agriculture.

This study focused on the antibacterial effects of the endophytic fungi producing naringenin from Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen against Staphylococcus aureus. The antibacterial activity was measured by the inhibition diameters, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The time-killing curve was also used to evaluate its antibacterial efficacy. The results of antibacterial activity determinations showed that endophytic fungi secondary metabolites can inhibit the growth of five pathogenic bacteria (S. aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis) and the most sensitive strain was S. aureus that had the MIC and MBC values of 0.13 and 0.50 mg/mL, respectively. The membrane permeability study was measured by a DNA leakage assay and electrical conductivity assay. Furthermore, the whole-cell protein lysates and DNA fragmentation assay was evaluated. The morphology of S. aureus treated with the endophytic fungi products was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The probable antibacterial mechanism of endophytic fungi secondary metabolites was the increased membrane permeability that leads to leaks of nucleic acids and proteins. SEM results further confirmed that the extracts can interfere with the integrity of S. aureus cell membrane and further inhibit the growth of bacteria, resulting in the death of bacteria. This study provides a new perspective for the antibacterial functions of endophytic fungi secondary metabolites for biomedical applications.

This article investigates the antifungal activity of clove essential oil (CEO) against Candida albicans, as well as its inhibitory effects on C. albicans biofilm formation and the associated developmental processes. Furthermore, it evaluates the therapeutic efficacy of CEO in a mouse model of intestinal C. albicans infection and explores its impact on intestinal microbiota. Additionally, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing was conducted to analyze the alterations in the intestinal microbiota. The findings indicate that the administration of CEO in mice infected with C. albicans resulted in a normalization of body weight and an improvement in their symptoms. Histological analysis utilizing HE and PAS staining demonstrated that CEO exerted beneficial effects on the intestinal mucosal status of these infected mice. Furthermore, ELISA results revealed a dose-dependent reduction in the levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-17A within the small intestinal tissues of C. albicans-infected mice. Additionally, 16S rRNA gene analysis indicated that CEO effectively enhanced the richness and diversity within the intestinal microbiota of CEO treatment groups of mice that were investigated. Overall, CEO exhibits therapeutic potential against inflammation induced by intestinal C. albicans infection in mice. This effect can be attributed to its anti-inflammatory properties as well as its capacity to regulate the composition of intestinal flora.

In this study, the effects of Clove oil (CEO) on biofilm formation of Candida albicans (C. albicans) were investigated using XTT and crystal violet staining methods. The therapeutic efficacy of CEO was studied using ICR mouse model with candida vaginitis. The potential targets and pathways of the CEO’s effect against C. albicans were predicted by network pharmacology. The relative gene levels of CDC42, Ste11, Hst7, CEK1, and CPH1 were evaluated by qPCR. Subsequently, the protein levels of CDC42, CEK1, and p-CEK1 were determined by Western blot. The results indicated CEO can inhibit C. albicans adhesion, mycelium formation and biofilm maturation process. By regulating the related genes and proteins, the CEO can inhibit C. albicans biofilm maturation process, and weaken the ability of C. albicans to cause disease. For candida vaginitis ICR mouse model, CEO can lower inflammatory cytokines levels, alleviated the symptoms of vaginitis, and play a good therapeutic effect.