Microbial Bioactives
Microbial Bioactives | Online ISSN 2209-2161
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Volume 8 Number 1 2025
REVIEWS (Open Access)
Ergot Alkaloids Across Fungal Lineages: Biosynthetic Diversity, Evolutionary Patterns, and Biotechnological Relevance—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analytical Perspective
Kamran Ashraf1,*, Wasim Ahmad2
Microbial Bioactives 8 (1) 1-8 https://doi.org/10.25163/microbbioacts.8110651
Submitted: 21 January 2025 Revised: 12 March 2025 Accepted: 24 March 2025 Published: 26 March 2025
Abstract
Marine environments harbor an extraordinary diversity of microorganisms that have evolved unique metabolic capabilities to survive under extreme physicochemical conditions. These adaptations have positioned marine microbes as prolific sources of structurally diverse secondary metabolites with significant biotechnological, pharmaceutical, and ecological relevance. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesize current evidence on the distribution, functional potential, and bioactivity of marine-derived microorganisms, with a particular emphasis on bacteria and fungi isolated from diverse marine habitats. Following PRISMA guidelines, peer-reviewed studies were systematically identified, screened, and quantitatively assessed to evaluate trends in metabolite production, bioactivity strength, and taxonomic contributions. Meta-analytical outcomes revealed consistent associations between habitat depth, taxonomic affiliation, and metabolite potency, although substantial heterogeneity among studies was observed. Forest plot analyses demonstrated moderate to strong pooled effect sizes for antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant activities, while funnel plot assessment suggested minimal publication bias but notable variability in experimental design. Beyond quantitative synthesis, this review contextualizes the ecological drivers shaping biosynthetic diversity, including environmental stress, microbial competition, and symbiotic interactions. Collectively, the findings underscore the underexplored potential of marine microorganisms as sustainable reservoirs of novel bioactive compounds and highlight methodological limitations that constrain cross-study comparability. By integrating ecological, biochemical, and statistical perspectives, this work provides a consolidated framework to guide future bioprospecting strategies, experimental standardization, and translational research in marine microbial biotechnology.
Keywords: Marine microorganisms; bioactive compounds; secondary metabolites; systematic review; meta-analysis; marine biotechnology
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