Secondary Metabolites Produced by Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterial Endophytes

Abstract

There is an increasing interest in the use of beneficial microorganisms as alternatives to chemically synthesized or plant-derived molecules to produce therapeutic agents. Bacterial endophytes are plant-associated microorganisms that can colonize different parts of living plants without causing any diseases. Diverse endophytic bacteria possess the ability to synthesize a wide range of secondary metabolites with unique chemical structures that have been exploited for their anti-microbial, antiviral, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, production of these bioactive compounds can also benefit the host plant as they may play a significant role in a plant's interaction with the environment for adaptation and defense. As a result of their significant impact as curative compounds or as precursors to produce new drugs, the biotechnological possibilities of secondary metabolites derived from endophytic bacteria are immense.

Keywords: endophytes; mechanisms; plant growth promoting bacteria; secondary metabolites; therapeutic applications.

Figure 1

Schematic representation of various rhizosphere bacteria (as shown by different colored shapes) being taken up from the rhizosphere and localized intercellularly in the plant root endosphere.