Epipolythiodioxopiperazines from Fungi: Chemistry and Bioactivities

Epipolythiodioxopiperazines (ETPs), characterized by a unique bridged disulfide or polysulfide dioxopiperazine six-membered ring, occur in many fungi. Due to its broad spectra of bioactivities, ETPs have drawn wide attention in recent years. This review covers diverse natural sources that produce ETPs, the synthetic chemistry of ETPs and an overview of promising bioactivities exhibited by some well studied ETPs. The plausible biosynthetic hypotheses of ETPs and some new results on antitumor activity of ETPs are also reviewed.