The Cytotoxic Activity of Secondary Metabolites from Marine-Derived Penicillium spp.: A Review (2018-2024)

Marine-derived Penicillium spp., including Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Penicillium sclerotiorum, have emerged as prolific producers of structurally diverse secondary metabolites with cytotoxic activity. This review systematically categorizes 177 bioactive compounds isolated from marine Penicillium spp. between 2018 and 2024, derived from diverse marine environments such as sediments, animals, plants, and mangroves. These compounds, classified into polyketides, alkaloids, terpenoids, and steroids, exhibit a wide range of cytotoxic activities. Their potency is categorized as potent (<1 mu M or <0.5 mu g/mL), notable (1-10 mu M or 0.5-5 mu g/mL), moderate (10-30 mu M or 5-15 mu g/mL), mild (30-50 mu M or 15-25 mu g/mL), and negligible (>50 mu M or >25 mu g/mL). The current review highlights the promising role of marine Penicillium spp. as a rich repository for the discovery of anticancer agents and the advancement of marine-inspired drug development.