Comprehensive Review—Chemistry and Bioactivities of Secondary Metabolites From Chaetomium globosum

Chaetomium sp. is a widely distributed fungal genus that has been identified as a source of chemically diverse and biologically active natural products. This review aimed to comprehensively survey secondary metabolites derived from Chaetomium globosum, including chemical diversity, biological activities, and related pathways of biosynthesis and chemosynthesis. A total of 275 compounds have been reported, covering the literatures from 1990 to 2024. According to their structures, these compounds can be divided into cytochalasans, azaphilones, indole alkaloids, terpenoids, anthraquinones, and other structural compounds, among which cytochalasans and azaphilones are relatively large in number. Some compounds have significant cytotoxicity and powerful inhibitory effects against different pathogenic bacteria and fungi, and a few have good growth inhibition and anti-HIV and anti-inflammatory activities.