Polyketide anthraquinone,diphenyl ether,and xanthone derivatives from the soil fungus Penicillium sp. PSU-RSPG99

Three new polyketides including one new diphenyl ether, penicillither (1), one new anthraquinone, penicilliquinone (2), and one new xanthone, penicillixanthone (3), together with twelve known compounds were isolated from the soil fungus Penicillium sp. PSU-RSPG99. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic evidence. In addition, the position of a chlorine atom in 1 was confirmed by the plausible biosynthetic pathway from the isolated chlorobenzophenone. Known GKK1032B displayed mild antimycobacterial and moderate cytotoxic (against human oral carcinoma, KB, human breast cancer, MCF-7, and noncancerous Vero cell lines) activities.     

Induced production of novel prenyldepside and coumarins in endophytic fungi Pestalotiopsis acaciae

Concomitant supplementation of a histone deacetylase inhibitor, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, and a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5-azacytidine, to the culture medium of a plant endophytic fungus, Pestalotiopsis acaciae, dramatically altered its metabolic profiles. As a result, three novel aromatic compounds, 2′-hydroxy-6′-hydroxymethyl-4′-methylphenyl-2,6-dihydroxy-3-(2-isopentenyl)benzoate (1), 4,6-dihydroxy-7-hydroxymethyl-3-methylcoumarin (2) and 4,6-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethylcoumarin (3), were isolated, along with five known polyketides, endocrocin (4), pestalotiollide B (5), pestalotiopyrone G (6), scirpyrone A (7) and 7-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxypropyl)-5-methylchromone (8).     

Penilactones A and B, two novel polyketides from Antarctic deep-sea derived fungus Penicillium crustosum PRB-2

Two highly oxygenated polyketides, penilactones A and B (1 and 2), containing a new carbon skeleton formed from two 3,5-dimethyl-2,4-diol-acetophenone units and a γ-butyrolactone moiety, together with five known compounds (3-7) were isolated from an Antarctic deep-sea derived fungus Penicillium crustosum PRB-2. Penilactones A and B possess antipodal absolute stereochemistries. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, and their absolute configurations were assigned by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and CD analyses. A plausible biogenetic pathway for 1-2 is proposed.     

Harrisotones A-E, five novel prenylated polyketides with a rare spirocyclic skeleton from Harrisonia perforata

Five novel prenylated polyketides, harrisotones A-E (1-5) representing a rare spirocyclic skeleton, along with a new hydroperoxypolyketide harrisonol A (6), were isolated from the stems and leaves of Harrisonia perforata. The structures of harrisotones A-E (1-5) were extensively elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, especially 2D NMR and CD spectra. A plausible origin of compounds 1-5 was rationalized biogenetically, and traced back to harrisonol A (6). Harrisotones A-C (1-3) and harrisonol A (6) exhibited significant cytotoxicity against P-388 and/or A-549 tumor cell lines.     

Discovery of novel sesquiterpenoids from a gorgonian Menella sp.

A novel sesquiterpenoid, menelloide A (1), which was found to possess a new carbon skeleton, and a new guaiane-type sesquiterpenoid, menelloide B (2), along with (+)-chloranthalactone B (3), an enantiomer of the known sesquiterpenoid, chloranthalactone B (4), were isolated from a gorgonian coral identified as Menella sp. The structures of sesquiterpenoids 1-3 were established by spectroscopic methods and by comparison of the data with those of related metabolites. Sesquiterpenoids 1 and 3 displayed inhibitory effects on the generation of superoxide anion by human neutrophils.     

Penicillones A and B, two novel polyketides with tricyclo [5.3.1.0] undecane skeleton, from a marine-derived fungus Penicillium terrestre

Two novel polyketides, penicillones A (1) and B (2), with tricyclo [5.3.1.0^3,8] undecane skeleton, were isolated from Penicillium terrestre. Their structures and relative stereochemistries were determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods. The absolute configuration of 2 was established by the modified Mosher’s method, while that of 1 was deduced from the similar CD absorptions of 1 and 2. Compound 1 showed weak cytotoxicities against P338 and A-549 cell lines, while 2 was inactive against P388.     

Proanthocyanidin glycosides from the leaves of Quercus ilex L. (Fagaceae)

From the polar extracts of the leaves of Quercus ilex L., two new proanthocyanidin glycosides, namely afzelechin-(4α→8)-catechin-3-O-β-glucopyranoside (1) and afzelechin-(4α→8)-catechin-3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (2), were isolated in addition to catechin (3), proanthocyanidin B₃ (4), prodelphinidin C (5), dehydrodicatechin A (6), quercetin (7) and six known flavonol glucosides with their acylated derivatives (8-13) and ellagic acid (14). The structures of all isolated compounds were established by spectroscopic means, mainly 1D and 2D NMR, as well as LC/MS and HR-MS spectrometric analyses. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was determined by CD measurements. The proanthocyanidin glycosides are especially interesting, as they possess the sugar in the upper unit of the dimer, which is rare for this type of compounds.     

Cytotoxic dimeric sesquiterpenoids from Curcuma parviflora: isolation of three new parviflorenes and absolute stereochemistry of parviflorenes A, B, D, F, and G

Three novel dimeric sesquiterpenoids, named parviflorenes G-I (1-3), have been isolated from Curcuma parviflora (Zingiberaceae), and their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic studies. Absolute stereochemistry of parviflorene G (1) as well as previously isolated related compounds, parviflorenes A (4), B (5), D (6), and F (7), was revealed by CD spectral data and chemical means. Parviflorenes G (1) and I (3) were cytotoxic against HeLa cells, while parviflorenes A (4) and F (7) were cytotoxic against all tested tumor cell lines in the human cancer cell line panel assay.     

Biselides A-E: novel polyketides from the Okinawan ascidian Didemnidae sp.

Five new polyketides, biselides A (1), B (2), C (3), D (4), and E (5), were isolated from the Okinawan ascidian Didemnidae sp. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis. Biselides A (1), B (2), and C (3) showed cytotoxicity against human cancer cells NCI-H460 and MDA-MB-231.     

Benzopyranone,benzophenone, and xanthone derivatives from the soil fungus Penicillium citrinum PSU-RSPG95

Two new benzopyranones, named coniochaetones E (1) and F (2), one new xanthone, penicillone C (3), and one new benzophenone, penicillanone (4), are isolated from the soil fungus Penicillium citrinum PSU-RSPG95, together with ten known compounds. Their structures are identified on the basis of spectroscopic data. The isolated compounds are evaluated for their cytotoxic activity.     

New microviridins from a water bloom of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa

Three new microviridins namely, SD1684 (1), SD1634 (2), and SD1652 (3), were isolated from the hydrophilic extract of Microcystis aeruginosa. The planar structures of compounds 1-3 were determined by homonuclear and inverse-heteronuclear 2D-NMR techniques as well as by high-resolution mass spectrometry. The absolute configuration of the asymmetric centers was studied using Marfey's method for HPLC. Compounds 1-3 contain l-threo-β-hydroxy aspartic acid as a building block of the peptide chain. This is the first example where microviridins contain non-proteinogenic amino acid in their structure. Compound 2 is a mild serine protease inhibitor.     

New pyridoacridine alkaloids from the purple morph of the ascidian Cystodytes dellechiajei

Two new pyridoacridine alkaloids, 13-didemethylaminocycloshermilamine D (1) and demethyldeoxyamphimedine (2), were isolated from the purple chromotype of the Western Mediterranean ascidian Cystodytes dellechiajei. This morph also contained the known shermilamine B (3), kuanoniamine D (4), N-deacetylshermilamine B (5), N-deacetylkuanoniamine D (6), styelsamines C (7), and D (8). The structures of new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. A hypothetic biosynthetic pathway from the tetracyclic styelsamine D (8) was proposed for both compounds 1 and 2 and their antimicrobial potential was evaluated.     

The structures of three new shishididemniols from a tunicate of the family Didemnidae

Three new serinolipid derivatives, shishididemniols C (1), D (2), and E (3), were isolated as antibacterial constituents of a tunicate of the family Didemnidae. Their planar structures were elucidated by interpretation of NMR and MS data, whereas the absolute stereochemistry was determined by chemical conversions. Shishididemniols C (3), D (4), and E (5) exhibited antibacterial activity against the fish pathogenic bacterium Vibrio anguillarum.     

Trypanocidal constituents of Dracocephalum komarovi

Trypanocidal constituents of Dracocephalum komarovi were investigated. Under guidance of the in vitro trypanocidal activity against epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease, two new diterpenes, dracocequinones A (1) and B (2), and two known triterpene acids, ursonic acid and ursolic acid, were isolated as trypanocidal constituents, in addition to previously reported diterpenes, cyclocoulterone (4), komaroviquinone (5), dracocephalone A (6) and komarovispirone (7). Furthermore a new diterpene, komarovinone A (3), was isolated, together with four known terpenes. Among these compounds, komaroviquinone (5) showed the most potent activity with minimum lethal concentration of 0.4 μM. Structure elucidation of the new diterpenes 1-3 was described.     

New sesquiterpenes from the red alga Laurencia microcladia

Three new aromatic sesquiterpenes (1, 2, and 4), one new dimeric sesquiterpene of the cyclolaurane-type (3), one sesquiterpene alcohol of bisabolene type (8) along with three previously reported metabolites (5-7), were isolated from the organic extracts of Laurencia microcladia, collected from the Chios island in the North Aegean Sea. The structures of the new natural products, as well as their relative stereochemistries, were established by means of spectral data analyses, including 2D experiments. The cytotoxicity of the isolated metabolites was evaluated against five human tumor cell lines.     

Feroniellins A-C, novel cytotoxic furanocoumarins with highly oxygenated C10 moieties from Feroniella lucida

Three new furanocoumarins, named feroniellins A (1), B (2), and C (3), were isolated from the roots of Feroniella lucida. Compounds 1-3 are novel structures having an oxolane, oxane, and oxepane moiety. Their overall structures and configurations were determined by spectral and chemical methods. The cytotoxicities of 1-3 were evaluated against human KB and HeLa carcinoma cells.     

Metabolites from the endophytic fungi Botryosphaeria rhodina PSU-M35 and PSU-M114

Three dimeric γ-lactones (1-3), one dihydronaphthalene-2,6-dione (4), one hexahydroindenofuran (5), one cyclopentanone (6), and one lasiodiplodin (7) were isolated from the endophytic fungi Botryosphaeria rhodina PSU-M35 and PSU-M114 along with twelve known metabolites. The structures and the proposed stereochemistry of the new metabolites were established by spectral data analysis. The isolated compounds were submitted for evaluation of the antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, both standard and methicillin-resistant strains.     

Novel sesquiterpenoids from the Formosan soft coral Paralemnalia thyrsoides

Three sesquiterpenoids with unprecedented skeletons, paralemnanone (1), isoparalemnanone (2), and paralemnanol (3), were isolated from the Formosan soft coral Paralemnalia thyrsoides. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, and the structure of 1 was further confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The absolute stereochemistries of 1-3 were established by application of the Mosher’s method on 2.     

A search for kinase inhibitors and antibacterial agents: bromopyrrolo-2-aminoimidazoles from a deep-water Great Australian Bight sponge, Axinella sp.

Biological screening of a deep-water Great Australian Bight marine sponge, Axinella sp., detected inhibition against the neurodegenerative disease kinase targets CDK5/p25, CK1δ, and GSK3β, as well as significant levels of antibacterial activity. Chemical fractionation returned 18 secondary metabolites identified by detailed spectroscopic analysis as three new bromopyrrolo-2-aminoimidazoles, 14-O-sulfate massadine (1), 14-O-methyl massadine (2), and 3-O-methyl massadine chloride (3), together with the known metabolites massadine chloride (4), massadine (5), stylissadine B (6), axinellamines A-C (7-9), hymenin (10), stevensine (also known as odiline) (11), tauroacidin A (12), hymenidin (13), taurodispacamide A (14), oroidin (15), debromohymenialdisine (16), hymenialdisine (17), and aldisin (18). Armed with this focused natural product chemical diversity library, we re-established that 16 and 17 were nM kinase inhibitors, and determined that 3, 6, and 12-15 were sub μM antibacterials.     

Antileukemic α-pyrone derivatives from the endophytic fungus Alternaria phragmospora

Four new (1–4) and two known (5 and 6) α-pyrone derivatives have been isolated from Alternaria phragmospora, an endophytic fungus from Vinca rosea, leaves. The isolated compounds were chemically identified to be 5-butyl-4-methoxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one (1), 5-butyl-6-(hydroxymethyl)-4-methoxy-2H-pyran-2-one (2), 5-(1-hydroxybutyl)-4-methoxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one (3), 4-methoxy-6-methyl-5-(3-oxobutyl)-2H-pyran-2-one (4), 5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methoxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one (5), and 5-[(2E)-but-2-en-1-yl]-4-methoxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one (6). Compounds 2 and 4 showed moderate antileukemic activities against HL60 cells with IC₅₀ values of 2.2 and 0.9 μM and against K562 cells with IC₅₀ values of 4.5 and 1.5 μM, respectively.