Marine fungi, such as species from the Penicillium and Aspergillus genera, are prolific producers of a diversity of natural products with cytotoxic properties. These fungi have been successfully isolated and identified from various marine sources, including sponges, coral, algae, mangroves, sediment, and seawater. The cytotoxic compounds derived from marine fungi can be categorized into five distinct classes: polyketides, peptides, terpenoids and sterols, hybrids, and other miscellaneous compounds. Notably, the pre-eminent group among these compounds comprises polyketides, accounting for 307 out of 642 identified compounds. Particularly, within this collection, 23 out of the 642 compounds exhibit remarkable cytotoxic potency, with IC₅₀ values measured at the nanomolar (nM) or nanogram per milliliter (ng/mL) levels. This review elucidates the originating fungal strains, the sources of isolation, chemical structures, and the noteworthy antitumor activity of the 642 novel natural products isolated from marine fungi. The scope of this review encompasses the period from 1991 to 2023.

The phytochemical investigation of the twig and root extracts of Erythrina subumbrans (Hassk.) Merr. (Fabaceae) resulted in the isolation and identification of a new pterocarpan, erythrinocarpan (1), along with 27 known compounds (2–28). All isolated compounds were evaluated for their antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Compounds 3, 8, 9, and 22 had α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 13.4 ± 0.05, 24.5 ± 0.13, 29.0 ± 0.05, and 12.8 ± 0.14 μM, respectively, while compound 2 inhibited α-amylase activity with an IC50 value of 67.6 ± 1.12 μM. Compounds 22 and 24 inhibited glycation activity with the IC50 values of 36.9 ± 0.62 and 40.5 ± 0.37 μM, respectively. From cell-based assays, compound 27 showed the highest ability to induce glucose consumption (IC50 29.1 ± 0.86 μM) and glucose uptake (2.8-fold), and to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production (IC50 52.5 ± 0.56 μM) without cell toxicity. Furthermore, compound 9 showed antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive bacteria and fungi with MIC values ranging from 2–4 μg/mL.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), remains a global public health crisis. The reduced efficacy of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), such as omicron BA.5 subvariants, has underlined the need to explore a novel spectrum of antivirals that are effective against existing and evolving SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. To address the need for novel therapeutic options, we applied cell-based high-content screening to a library of natural products (NPs) obtained from plants, fungi, bacteria, and marine sponges, which represent a considerable diversity of chemical scaffolds. The antiviral effect of 373 NPs was evaluated using the mNeonGreen (mNG) reporter SARS-CoV-2 virus in a lung epithelial cell line (Calu-3). The screening identified 26 NPs with half-maximal effective concentrations (EC₅₀) below 50 μM against mNG-SARS-CoV-2; 16 of these had EC₅₀ values below 10 μM and three NPs (holyrine A, alotaketal C, and bafilomycin D) had EC₅₀ values in the nanomolar range. We demonstrated the pan-SARS-CoV-2 activity of these three lead antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 highly transmissible Omicron subvariants (BA.5, BA.2 and BA.1) and highly pathogenic Delta VOCs in human Calu-3 lung cells. Notably, holyrine A, alotaketal C, and bafilomycin D, are potent nanomolar inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants BA.5 and BA.2. The pan-SARS-CoV-2 activity of alotaketal C [protein kinase C (PKC) activator] and bafilomycin D (V-ATPase inhibitor) suggest that these two NPs are acting as host-directed antivirals (HDAs). Future research should explore whether PKC regulation impacts human susceptibility to and the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and it should confirm the important role of human V-ATPase in the VOC lifecycle. Interestingly, we observed a synergistic action of bafilomycin D and N-0385 (a highly potent inhibitor of human TMPRSS2 protease) against Omicron subvariant BA.2 in human Calu-3 lung cells, which suggests that these two highly potent HDAs are targeting two different mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 entry. Overall, our study provides insight into the potential of NPs with highly diverse chemical structures as valuable inspirational starting points for developing pan-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics and for unravelling potential host factors and pathways regulating SARS-CoV-2 VOC infection including emerging omicron BA.5 subvariants.

Diverse chemical messengers are responsible for maintaining homeostasis in the human body, for example, hormones and neurotransmitters. Various Hawaiian plant species produce compounds that exert effects on these messengers and the systems of which they are a part. The main purpose of this review article is to evaluate the potential effects of Hawaiian plants on reducing pain and anxiety and improving sleep and mood. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in SciFinder, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Scientific Information Database between 2019 and 2023 to identify related articles. Results indicate that several Hawaiian plant species, such as M. citrifolia and P. methysticum, have medicinal properties associated with these effects. These plants have been used in traditional Hawaiian cultural practices for centuries, suggesting their potential to benefit human health and well-being. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the available evidence concerning the potential impacts of Hawaiian plants on sleep, anxiety, mood, and pain.

The Hawaiian Islands are renowned for their exceptional biodiversity and are host to a plethora of endemic plant species, which have been utilized in traditional Hawaiian medicine. This scientific review provides an in-depth analysis of the phytochemistry and biological studies of selected endemic Hawaiian plants, highlighting their medicinal properties and therapeutic potential. A literature search was conducted, utilizing major academic databases such as SciFinder, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and the Scientific Information Database. The primary objective of this search was to identify relevant scholarly articles pertaining to the topic of the review, which focused on the phytochemistry and biological studies of endemic Hawaiian plants. Utilizing these databases, a comprehensive range of literature was obtained, facilitating a comprehensive examination of the subject matter. This review emphasizes the rich phytochemical diversity and biological activities found in Endemic Hawaiian plants, showcasing their potential as sources of novel therapeutic agents. Given the unique biodiversity of Hawaii and the cultural significance of these plants, continued scientific exploration, conservation, and sustainable utilization of these valuable resources is necessary to unlock the full potential of these plant species in drug discovery and natural product-based therapeutics.