Diversity of African fungi, chemical constituents and biological activities

Besides plants and animals, the fungal kingdom consists of several species characterized by various forms and applications. Fungi are amazing producers of bioactive natural products with applications in medicine and agriculture. Though this kingdom has been extensively investigated worldwide, it remains relatively underexplored in Africa. To address the knowledge gaps, encourage research interest, and suggest opportunities for the discovery of more bioactive substances from African fungi, we considered it appropriate to extensively review the research work carried out on African fungi since 1988. This review summarizes the diversity and distribution of fungi throughout Africa, the secondary metabolites yet reported from studied fungi, their biological activities and, the countries where they were collected. The studied fungi originated from eleven African countries and were mainly endophytic fungi and higher fungi (macrofungi). Their investigation led to the isolation of five hundred and three (503) compounds with polyketides representing the main class of secondary metabolites. The compounds exhibited varied biological activities with antibacterial and antiproliferative properties being the most prominent.