Lichenized fungi, recognized as an ecologically vital and pharmaceutically promising resource, hold substantial value in both environmental conservation and medicinal applications. As the second largest subclass within the lichen-forming fungi of Lecanoromycetes, Ostropomycetidae emerged as a critical reservoir of bioactive secondary metabolites. Current research has revealed that these secondary metabolites demonstrate remarkable bioactivities, positioning them as potential sources for novel pharmaceutical compounds. Despite considerable progress in characterizing chemical constituents and evaluating bioactivities within this subclass, a systematic summary of these discoveries remains absent. This review synthesizes the lichenochemical research progress, providing critical evaluations of 202 structurally characterized compounds from Ostropomycetidae lichen species over recent decades. These Ostropomycetidae-derived compounds cover the phenols, polyketides, fatty acids, terpenoids, steroids, and non-ribosomal peptides, and exhibit diverse bioactivities including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, anti-neurodegenerative diseases, antitubercular, anti-herbivore, and antitrypanosomal, and so on. The aim of this review is to establish a robust chemodiversity framework and to offer strategic guidance for targeted exploration of lichen-derived drug candidates in the biological resources of Ostropomycetidae lichens.

During our research on the lichen genus Carbacanthographis from China, two species new to science were discovered in materials from Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces, i.e. Carbacanthographis crassibasalia sp. nov. with a corticate thallus, a completely carbonized excipulum, warty periphysoid tips, hyaline, muriform, 6–18 × 3–4-septate ascospores, and protocetraric acid and C. yunnanensis sp. nov. with an ecorticate thallus, a completely carbonized excipulum, warty periphysoid tips, hyaline, small, submuriform 4–6 × 0–1-septate ascospores and the presence of protocetraric acid. A new record for China, C. iriomotensis, collected in Hainan Province is also reported. Detailed morphological descriptions as well as high-resolution photographs of the morphology and anatomy of the three species are provided. A working key to all the known Carbacanthographis species from China is also provided.

Based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses, during a study on the biodiversity of the lichenized fungi family Arthoniaceae in Yunnan, China, three new species of Arthonia, Eremothecella, and Synarthonia (Arthonia yunnanensis sp. nov., A. pararubella sp. nov., Eremothecella pruinocarpa sp. nov.) and three new Chinese records (A. rubella, E. calamicola, Synarthonia inconspicua) were reported in this present study. A phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference based on a two-gene dataset (mtSSU and RPB2) revealed that all these species form distinct independent clades. In addition, this study represents the first report of molecular sequences for the genus Eremothecella. Detailed descriptions, ecological and chemical characteristics, and illustrations for each species are provided.