This study aimed to explore the antioxidant potential and antiviral activity of endophytic fungi which were isolated from healthy living tissues of medicinal plants. Endophytic strains (29 different taxa) were isolated from 18 Egyptian medicinal plants collected from Saint Katherine Protectorate, Egypt. The fungal endophytes were identified based on morphological characters. All isolates were identified as ascomycetes, except two Zygomycetes strains (Absidia corymbifera and Mucor fuscus). Isolated endophytes were cultivated on potato dextrose media. The fungal metabolites were extracted by ethyl acetate and examined for their biological activities. Among 99 total extracts, only Chaetomium globosum, which was isolated from Adiantum capillus, showed a promising DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activity (99% at 100 µg/mL). Fifteen extracts prohibited the reproduction of HSV-2 virus. On the other hand, the reproduction of VSV-virus was inhibited by sixteen endophytic extracts. The promising anti-(HSV-2 and VSV) extract of endophytic Pleospora tarda strain; that was originally isolated from the medicinal plant Ephedra aphylla, showed viral inhibitory activity of 40.7% and 15.2%, respectively. Two compounds, for which antiviral activates could be attributed, were isolated and identified as alternariol and alternariol-(9)-methyl ether using different NMR techniques from P. tarda extract. For the first time, we report here the ability of the endophytic fungus P. tarda to produce alternariol and alternariol-(9)-methyl ether. The results indicate that the endophytic fungi from medicinal plants are promising sources of bioactive compounds.

Colorants have many applications in food, cosmetics, pharmaceutics, textile, paints, plastics, paper, ink and photographic industries. Colorants are classified according to their solubility into dyes and pigments. Those of natural origin have many advantages over synthetic ones, as natural colorants usually do not induce allergies or other health problems. In addition, their consumption in the food and drug industries is fortified with nutritional and health benefits as the majority of them possess antioxidant activity or can be used to produce some vitamins. Plants, animals, insects and microorganisms are rich sources of colorants. However, microbial pigments are favored over other natural pigments due to their higher yield, stability, economical production. Therefore, we focus in this review on fungal pigments, the history of their use, their chemistry and their applications in food and non-food fields. Additionally, the ability of the fungal genus, Epicoccum, to produce pigments is discussed. Moreover, the challenges and future prospects concerning fungal pigment production are highlighted in detail.

A bioguided separation on the cultures of the potato endophytic fungus Bipolaris eleusines led to the isolation of two anti-phytopathogenic (Alternaria solani) sesquiterpenoid-xanthone adducts, namely bipolins I and J (1 and 2). Their structures were established via extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibit potent inhibitory activity against A. solani with MIC values of 8 and 16 μg mL⁻¹, respectively.