Abstract

The exploitation of the antitumor properties of fungal secondary metabolites is one of the fundamental objectives pursued by a multiplicity of research groups and laboratories working on the characterization of natural products worldwide. The availability of a synthetic framework on such a vast interdisciplinary topic can enhance the current knowledge by supporting novel findings, and stimulating further insights. This paper offers an overview of the state-of-the-art concerning this category of compounds and their occurrence, selection, structural diversity and mechanisms of action on tumor cells.

Keywords: Antitumor drugs, biological activity, fungi, natural products, secondary metabolites.