The extremophiles-derived secondary metabolites for antitumor and antibacterial therapy.

Extreme environments shape microbial diversity and drive distinctive physicobiochemical strategies. Secondary metabolites from extremophiles represent novel bioactive compounds with unique mechanisms of action, offering promising avenues for drug discovery. This review synthesizes advances in secondary metabolites with antitumor and antibacterial activities obtained from extremophilic bacteria, fungi, and algae, emphasizing their underlying mechanisms. The objective is to provide a theoretical framework and reference basis for the development of new therapeutic agents targeting tumor and bacterial diseases.