Secondary Metabolites from Plant Endophytes: Possible Source of Future Antimicrobial Compounds

Abstract

Endophytes are endosymbionts that live inside the plant without causing any harm. Endophytes could be a fungi or bacteria but the fungal population is widespread worldwide. There are huge chances for exploiting those endophytic fungi for the in vitro production of bioactive secondary metabolites for human welfare. Their successful laboratory cultivation is emerging as a new source of antimicrobial compounds. In recent years, more than 300 endophytes have been isolated from different plant species and successfully cultivated in vitro to synthesize new bioactive metabolites. This phenomenon reflects the chemical diversity of different natural compound classes with their incredible bioactivity. But still, the chemistry and nature of endophytes need to be comprehensively studied. Hence, in this chapter, we have attempted to discuss different endophytes along with their potential antibacterial activities.