Bioluminescent Fungi as a Multifunctional Bioresource: Biodiversity, Bioactive Metabolites and Emerging Applications

Bioluminescent fungi are a unique group of light-producing organisms, similar to some bacteria, insects, and marine organisms. About 132 species are currently known, all belonging to the order Agaricales and grouped into five major evolutionary lineages. Their light production is linked to a conserved caffeic acid-based luciferin–luciferase pathway. Besides producing light, these fungi are a potential source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities. For example, compounds from Neonothopanus gardneri showed activity against Schistosoma mansoni, with an EC₅₀ below 10 µM and no observed toxicity to mammalian cells or Caenorhabditis elegans. The fungal bioluminescence pathway has also been studied for use in biotechnology, including the development of autonomous light-producing biological systems. This has created opportunities for applications in agriculture, environmental monitoring, and bioengineering. Bioluminescent fungi are still being discovered in new regions. For example, Roridomyces cf. phyllostachydis was recently recorded from Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, India, where it was found growing on dead bamboo. Overall, bioluminescent fungi have promising applications in medicine, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and biotechnology, although their large-scale cultivation and clinical development remain challenging.