Endophytic fungi are a rich source of secondary metabolites. The interactions between endophytes and their hosts lead to the production of several bioactive substances grouped into different classes, having a wide variety of actions against different pathogens. The metabolites obtained from these organisms include steroids, alkaloids, phenols, isocoumarins, xanthones, quinones, terpenoids, among other various substances that have antibiotic, antiparasitic, antifungal, and antiviral activities. This review summarizes the secondary metabolites with antiviral action produced by endophytic fungi and highlights the importance of investigation and research to develop new antiviral substances. It is observed through this review that endophytic fungi constitute a rich source of secondary metabolites in combating pathologies caused by viruses. Optimizing practical biotechnological and screening tools for researching these metabolites will provide promising drugs in combating these infections.
Endophytic Fungi as Sources of Antiviral Compounds - a Review