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RESEARCH ARTICLE BIOSCIENCE
RESEARCH, 2025 22(2): 76-92.
OPEN ACCESS
Endophytic Microorganisms and Bioactive
Metabolites of Avicennia marina: A Natural Treasure for Biotechnology
and Medicine
Hamid
M. Al Hebaishi1*,
Saleh M. Al-maaqar1,2, Hussam M.
Alhebaishi3, Mubarak A. Alzubaidi1,4
1Department
of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P.O.
Box 80203, Jeddah 21589,
Saudi Arabia.
2Department
of Biology, Faculty of Education, Albaydha University, Al-Baydha,
Yemen.
3Department
of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Al Madinah AlMunawarah
42353, Saudi Arabia
4Centre
of Excellence in Bionanoscience, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah,
Saudi Arabia
DOI:
Abstract
The grey mangrove (Avicennia
marina) hosts a varied array of endophytic microorganisms, which are
crucial to the plant's adaptation in extreme coastal environments. These
endophytes comprising bacteria and fungi play a crucial role in enhancing
the host’s stress tolerance, disease resistance, and nutrient cycling. In
this way, they support the ecological resilience and productivity of
mangrove ecosystems. Recent studies have shown that endophytes derived from
A. marina produce a wide variety of bioactive metabolites—including
alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, and various enzymes that
possess strong antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer,
insecticidal
activities, as well as bioremediation properties. These compounds are highly
promising for use in drug discovery, environmental remediation, and
industrial biotechnology. Even with these advancements, challenges persist,
such as cultivation difficulties, limited genomic insights, and scalability
issues for practical applications. To fully realize the biotechnological and
medicinal potential of A. marina endophytes, future efforts in this
field should focus on integrating omics technologies and synthetic biology
and investigating novel microbial taxa. This review highlights the
ecological importance, metabolic diversity, and potential applications of
endophytic microorganisms associated with A. marina, stressing their
worth as a natural resource for sustainable innovation in biotechnology and
medicine.
Keywords: Endophytic microorganisms, Avicennia marina, Mangrove
endophytes, Bioactive metabolites, Secondary metabolites, Antioxidants,
Bioremediation, Drug discovery, Biotechnology |
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