A review of bioactive plant compounds against WHO priority fungal pathogens

Abstract

In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a list of priority fungal pathogens, including 19 neglected mycoses categorized as critical, high, or medium priority. Many of these pathogens are listed due to limited effective treatment options, often stemming from restricted access to medications or the development of drug resistance that compromises treatment efficacy. Plant-derived bioactive compounds have emerged as promising sources of natural antimicrobial agents. Various chemical classes, including flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, and essential oils, have demonstrated notable activity against pathogenic microorganisms, including drug-resistant strains. Moreover, many of these compounds exhibit synergistic effects when used in combination with conventional drugs. This review aims to compile plant-derived biomolecules with antifungal activity against the WHO-priority fungal pathogens. While pathogens such as Cryptococcus neoformans have been extensively studied in this context, others, like Candida auris, remain underexplored. Therefore, this review seeks to bridge the gap in natural product-based treatments by presenting these biomolecules as potential leads for the development of new antifungal therapies.

Keywords: Antifungal therapy; Neglected mycoses; Plant-based treatments.