Natural Source-Derived Compounds with Antifungal Activity Against Medically Relevant Fungi

Fungal infections represent a growing global public health problem, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The availability of effective treatments is limited, and the emergence of strains resistant to conventional antifungal agents further complicates disease management. Therefore, it is essential to explore novel therapeutic alternatives. This review analyzes compounds derived from natural sources with potential antifungal activity and highlights their structural and functional diversities. These include plant primary metabolites, fatty acids, antimicrobial peptides, secondary metabolites, crude extracts, terpenoids, essential oils, flavonoids, and saponins, as well as fungal metabolites and compounds extracted from marine algae. These natural products have demonstrated activity against various fungal species through multiple mechanisms of action, making them promising candidates for the development of new antifungal therapies. Compared with synthetic molecules or novel antifungal drugs under development, natural compounds often display lower toxicity, higher availability, and greater chemical diversity, which can be strategically exploited to overcome resistance. The compilation and analysis of this information underscores the value of natural sources as valuable resources in the search for therapeutic alternatives against human mycoses, particularly in the current context of increasing antifungal resistance.