Neuroprotective Metabolites from Endophytic Microbes: A Review

Abstract

A progressive loss of functional and structural integrity of the central nervous system leads to neurodegenerative diseases. Neurotoxicity refers to direct or indirect effect of chemicals that disrupt the nervous system. Human beings are grieving from nervous related ailments due increase in the population and aging. Because of the limited capacity of neurons to regenerate there is still no trusted and consistent therapeutic approach available to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Natural compounds have been widely studied as potential neuroprotective agents because of their characteristics of multiple targets and low cytotoxicity. Endophytes could be any organism either bacteria fungi actinomycetes or mycoplasm which reside inside the tissues of plants showing mutualistic relationships without infecting any of the plant cells. Variety of novel secondary metabolites and known analogues of plant metabolites are produced by endophytic microbes. Structurally distinctive and therapeutically active natural products such as flavonoids phenolic acids polyketides terpenoids benzopyranones quinines steroids alkaloids etc. are obtained from endophytes for their potential use in medicine agriculture or industry. Considerable literature is also available on chemically diversified compounds isolated from endophytic fractions possessing neuroprotective activity. The present review emphasizes on promising neuroprotective metabolites isolated from endophytic microbes inhabited in medicinal plants.