Cytochalasins are a fascinating class of natural compounds: advances in the chemistry, biological activities, mode of action, and structure-activity relationships of novel cytochalasins isolated in the last decade are described

Abstract

Cytochalasins are a very intriguing group of natural compounds. Since the first isolation of the well-known cytochalasins A and B in 1966, over 300 analogues have been described as metabolites, primarily produced by various fungal genera. Their bioactivities, targets, total syntheses, and biosyntheses had been also extensively investigated. After the review of Scherlach et al., 2010 several other cytochalasins, isolated from different fungal sources, their biological activities and potential applications, were extensively described. In particular, during the last decades (2014–2024), as deduced from SciFinder research 259 articles, excluding reviews, were published essentially on new cytochalasins from new fungal sources and their biological activity and their potential application were reported. The reviews published in the same time (2014–2024) treated essentially the biological activities, the mode of action, the biosynthesis of already known cytochalasins and frequently the description was also extended and compared to other classes of natural compounds. The aims of the present review is to cover this gap reporting about the structure and biological activities of new cytochalasins isolated in the last decade (2014–2024) by fungi, endophytic fungi, essentially cohabitants in plants, and marine organisms. Furthermore, a brief section describing the cytochalasins Produced by lichens is also included. For some cytochalasins, the results of structure–activity and on the mode of action studies and potential biotechnological application will be also described.

Graphical Abstract