GFP-expressing mammalian cells for fast, sensitive, noninvasive cell growth assessment in a kinetic mode

Ganopyrone A, a highly rearranged lanostane triterpenoid with antimalarial activity from artificially cultivated fruiting bodies of Ganoderma colossus

Three previously undescribed highly modified lanostane triterpenoids, ganopyrone A, ganocolossusin I, and ganodermalactone Y, were isolated from the artificially cultivated fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Ganoderma colossus TBRC-BCC 17711. Ganopyrone A possesses an unprecedented polycyclic carbon skeleton with an α-pyrone ring and C-18/C-23 bond. It showed antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum K1 (multidrug-resistant strain) with an IC50 value of 7.8 μM (positive control: dihydroartemisinin, IC50 1.4 nM), while its cytotoxicity (Vero cells) was much weaker (IC50 103 μM).

Antimalarial 9-methoxystrobilurin derivatives from cultures of the basidiomycete Favolaschia minutissima

Investigation of cultures of the basidiomycete Favolaschia minutissima TBRC-BCC 19434 led to the isolation of two undescribed β-methoxyacrylate metabolites, 9-methoxystrobilurins R (1) and S (2), and a degraded aldehyde derivative, favodehyde E (3). 9-Methoxystrobilurin derivatives 1 and 2 exhibited significant antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum K1 (multidrug-resistant strain) with IC50 values of 0.12 and 0.21 μM, respectively.

Antimalarial Lanostane Dimers from Artificially Cultivated Fruiting Bodies of Ganoderma weberianum

Investigation of cultivated fruiting bodies of Ganoderma weberianum led to the isolation of 11 previously unreported lanostane dimers, ganoweberianones C (3a), D (4a), E (5a), F (6a), G (7a), and H (8a) and isoganoweberianones A (1b), B (2b), D (4b), G (7b), and H (8b). Six new ganodermanontriol derivatives as three pairs of diastereomers (11/12, 13/14, and 15/16) and five new ganoweberianic acids (17-21) were also isolated. A method for semisynthesis of lanostane dimers by condensation of natural lanostanes was established, which was utilized in the structure elucidation and NMR data assignments of the undescribed natural lanostane dimers. Ganoweberianone D (4a) and isoganoweberianone D (4b) showed significant antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum K1 (multidrug-resistant strain) with IC50 values of 0.057 and 0.035 μM, respectively, whereas their cytotoxicity to Vero cells was weaker (IC50 8.1 and 19 μM, respectively).

Oudemansin and 9-methoxystrobilurin derivatives with antimalarial activity from cultures of the basidiomycete Favolaschia minutissima: assignments of the absolute configurations of the isoprene-derived units

Five undescribed polyketide metabolites, oudemansins E (1), M (2), P (3), and Q (4), and 9-methoxystrobilurin I (5), were isolated from cultures of basidiomycete Favolaschia minutissima TBRC-BCC 19434. A γ-lactone derivative (6) of noroudemansin A (8), which was previously reported as a semisynthetic compound, was also isolated. The absolute configuration of the isoprene-derived moiety of the known cometabolite 9-methoxystrobilurin E (9) was determined to be 2'R,6'S by comparison of the experimental and calculated ECD data, which was correlated to the new derivative 1. These compounds exhibited antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum K1 (multidrug-resistant strain). A putative minor natural product, namely 9-methoxystrobilurin P (13), was prepared by semisynthesis, which exhibited significant antimalarial activity (IC50 0.086 μM).

Guanidyl-Rich Poly(β Amino Ester)s for Universal Functional Cytosolic Protein Delivery and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein Based Gene Editing

Protein therapeutics are highly promising for complex disease treatment. However, the lack of ideal delivery vectors impedes their clinical use, especially the carriers for in vivo delivery of functional cytosolic protein. In this study, we modified poly(β amino ester)s (PAEs) with a phenyl guanidine (PG) group to enhance their suitability for cytosolic protein delivery. The effects of the PG group on protein binding, cell internalization, protein function protection, and endo/lysosomal escape were systematically evaluated. Compared to the unmodified PAEs (L3), guanidyl rich PAEs (L3PG) presented superior efficiency of protein binding and protein internalization, mainly via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. In addition, both PAEs showed robust capabilities to deliver cytosolic proteins with different molecular weight (ranging from 30 to 464 kDa) and isoelectric points (ranging from 4.3 to 9), which were significantly improved in comparison with the commercial reagents of PULsin and Pierce Protein Transection Reagent. Moreover, L3PG successfully delivered Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) into HeLa cells expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) and achieved more than 80% GFP expression knockout. These results demonstrated that guanidyl modification on PAEs can enhance its capabilities for intracellular delivery of cytosolic functional proteins and CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein. The guanidyl-rich PAEs are promising nonviral vectors for functional protein delivery and potential use in protein and nuclease-based gene editing therapies.

Chemical analysis and antitubercular activity evaluation of the dried mycelial powders of the basidiomycete Ganoderma australe TBRC-BCC 22314

The isolation of lanostane triterpenoids possessing significant anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) activity from mycelial cultures of the basidiomycete Ganoderma australe strain TBRC-BCC 22314 was previously reported. To demonstrate the potential of the dried mycelial powder for utilization in anti-TB medicinal products, its authentic chemical analysis was performed. Considering the possibility of the changes in the lanostane compositions and anti-TB activity by sterilization, both autoclave treated and non-autoclaved mycelial powder materials were chemically investigated. The study led to the identification of the lanostanes responsible for the activity of the mycelial extract against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra. The anti-TB activity of the extracts from autoclaved and non-autoclaved mycelial powders were the same (MIC 3.13 μg/mL). However, the analytical results revealed several unique chemical conversions of the lanostanes under the sterilization conditions. The most potent major lanostane, ganodermic acid S (1), was shown to be significantly active also against the extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains of M. tuberculosis.

Cytotoxic cytochalasans from cultures of the fungus Metarhizium brunneum TBRC-BCC 79240

Fourteen new cytochalasans, brunnesins A-N (1-14), along with eleven known compounds, were isolated from the culture extracts of the insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum strain TBRC-BCC 79240. The compound structures were established by spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and electronic circular dichroism. Compound 4 exhibited antiproliferative activity against all cell lines tested (mammalian), with 50% inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) values ranging from 2.09 to 16.8 μg mL^-1. Compounds 6 and 16 were shown to be bioactive only against non-cancerous Vero cells (IC₅₀ 4.03 and 0.637 μg mL^-1, respectively) whereas compounds 9 and 12 were bioactive only against NCI-H187 small-cell lung cancer cells (IC₅₀ 18.59 and 18.54 μg mL^-1, respectively). Compounds 7, 13, and 14 showed cytotoxicity against NCI-H187 and Vero cell lines with IC₅₀ values ranging from 3.98-44.81 μg mL^-1.

Colossolactone J, a highly modified lanostane triterpenoid from a natural fruiting body of Ganoderma colossus

Colossolactone J (1), an undescribed lanostane triterpenoid was isolated from a natural fruiting body of Ganoderma colossus using silica gel column chromatography and preparative HPLC. Its structure was elucidated on the basis of the spectroscopic method. The absolute configuration was determined by the combination of the modified Mosher's method and detailed NMR data analysis.

Sesquiterpenes from the soil-derived fungus Trichoderma citrinoviride PSU-SPSF346

Two new sesquiterpenes, trichocitrinovirenes A (1) and B (2), and five known compounds including four structurally related sesquiterpenes and one γ-lactone were isolated from the soil-derived fungus Trichoderma citrinoviride PSU-SPSF346. The structures were identified by analysis of their spectroscopic data. The relative configuration was assigned based on NOEDIFF data. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was established according to specific rotations and ECD data while that of compound 2 was proposed based on biosynthetic considerations. Compound 2 possesses a rare bicyclic sesquiterpene skeleton. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of the isolated compounds were evaluated.

Lanostane triterpenoids from cultivated fruiting bodies of basidiomycete Ganoderma mbrekobenum

In the quest for medicinally active compounds in mushrooms of the genus Ganoderma, eleven undescribed lanostane triterpenoids, including a novel chlorinated derivative, i.e., (20S,24E)-21-chloro-15β,20,29-trihydroxy-3,7,11-trioxolanosta-8,24-dien-26-oic acid, were isolated from artificially cultivated fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Ganoderma mbrekobenum. The structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometry data. The configuration of the C-20 atom in the most abundant 20-hydroxy-lanostane, (20S,24E)-15β,20,29-trihydroxy-3,7,11-trioxolanosta-8,24-dien-26-oic acid, was established by chemical derivatization, and the absolute configuration of the lanostane skeleton was determined by ECD calculation. Two of the undescribed compounds exhibited moderate antimalarial activity.

Enhancing Anticancer Potency of a 13-Substituted Berberine Derivative with Cationic Liposomes

Cationic liposomal formulations of the telomeric G-quadruplex stabilizing ligand, 13-(2-naphthylmethoxy)berberine bromide (1), have been developed with the purpose of delivering 1 into the nucleus of cancer cells for potential telomere targeting. Berberine derivative 1 was encapsulated in various cationic lipids 2-4 by the thin film evaporation method; these lipids are cationic after amine protonation. The most appropriate liposomal berberine formulation was that of 1 and the cholesterol derived cationic lipid 4 in a weight ratio of 1:20 with 76.5% encapsulation efficiency of 1. Cellular uptake studies in the HeLa and HT-29 cancer cells line showed that the liposomal berberine derivative uptake in the cells was higher and more stable than for berberine derivative 1 alone while free 1 was completely decomposed in the cells within 60 min exposure to the cells. Anticancer activity of the liposomal berberine derivative 1 based on 4 was greater than that for the free berberine derivative 1 in the MCF-7, HeLa and HT-29 cell line by 2.3-, 4.9- and 5.3-fold, respectively, and also, interestingly, superior to the anticancer drug doxorubicin against the HT29 cancer cell line.

Lanostane triterpenoids from cultivated fruiting bodies of Ganoderma sichuanense: Determination of the C-25 absolute configuration of ganoderic acid A and its derivatives using the phenylglycine methyl ester (PGME) method

Three undescribed lanostane triterpenoids, together with twenty-one known compounds, were isolated from artificially cultivated fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Ganoderma sichuanense. The absolute configuration at C-25 of ganoderic acid A and its derivatives was determined to be 25R by application of the phenylglycine methyl ester (PGME) method. Among the isolated compounds, ganoderiol F exhibited the most potent activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra with an MIC value of 0.781 μg/ml.

Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Angucyclic Quinones from Actinomadura miaoliensis

Eight new angucyclic quinones, miaosporones A to H (1-8), along with the previously described metabolites 8-hydroxy-3-methylbenz[a]anthraquinone (9), tetrangulol (10), 5,6-dihydro-1,8-dihydroxy-3-methybenz[a]anthracene-7,12-quinone (11), and SF2315A (12), were isolated from the terrestrial actinomycete Actinomadura miaoliensis TBRC 5172 obtained from sediment collected from the Huai Yang reservoir, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Thailand. The relative and absolute configurations of the new compounds were determined from analysis of NMR spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic data. Miaosporone A exhibited antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum K1 and antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis with respective IC₅₀ values of 2.5 and 2.4 μM and displayed cytotoxic activities against both cancerous (MCF-7 and NCI-H187) and nonmalignant (Vero) cells.

Semisynthetic modifications of antitubercular lanostane triterpenoids from Ganoderma

Antitubercular lanostane triterpenoids isolated from mycelial cultures of the basidiomycete Ganoderma australe were structurally modified by semisynthesis. One of the synthetic compounds, named GA003 (9), showed more potent activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra than the lead natural lanostane (1). GA003 was also significantly active against the virulent strain (H37Rv) as well as extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis strains.

Antibacterial and Antifungal Polyketides from the Fungus Aspergillus unguis PSU-MF16

Seven new polyketides including a phenol (1), two diphenyl ethers (2 and 3), two depsidones (4 and 5), and two phthalides (6 and 7) were isolated from the fungus Aspergillus unguis PSU-MF16 along with 27 known compounds. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations of 1 and 4-7 were established using comparative analyses of calculated and experimental ECD spectra. Among the new metabolites, 2 exhibited the best antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and Microsporum gypseum with equal MIC values of 16 μg/mL. In addition, known emeguisin A displayed potent antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and Cryptococcus neoformans with equal MIC values of 0.5 μg/mL, compared with the standard drugs, vancomycin and amphotericin B. The structure-activity relationship study of the isolated compounds for antimicrobial activity is discussed.

2-Oxaspiro[4.5]decane and α-pyrenocine derivatives from the endophytic fungus Roussoella sp. PSU-H51

One new 2-oxaspiro[4.5]decane, roussoellide, and one new α-pyrenocine, 2',3'-dihydropyrenocine A, together with nine known compounds including known arthropsolide A, and pyrenocines A and E, were obtained from the culture broth of the endophytic fungus Roussoella sp. Their structures were determined using spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of known arthropsolide A was assigned on the basis of X-ray diffraction data using Cu Kα radiation. Known pyrenocine A displayed weak cytotoxic activity against breast cancer (MCF-7) cells with an IC₅₀ value of 27.1 µM and weak antifungal activity against Microsporum gypseum SH-MU-4 with an MIC value of 615.2 µM.

Unique polyacetylenic ester-neolignan derivatives from Mitrephora tomentosa and their antimalarial activities

The phytochemical investigation of the methanol extracts of the leaves and twigs of Mitrephora tomentosa Hook. f. & Thomson resulted in the isolation and identification of undescribed polyacetylenic ester-neolignan derivatives, along with six known compounds. These six undescribed natural products were named as mitrephentosins A-F. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic techniques including UV, IR, NMR, and mass spectrometric analyses. The absolute configurations of mitrephentosins A-F were determined based on specific rotations values and ECD spectral data by comparisons made with the known parent neoligan compound mitredrusin. Mitrephentosins C, E, and F showed moderate antimalarial activities (IC₅₀ values of 13.3-24.6 μM) against the Plasmodium falciparum strains TM4/8.2 and K1CB1 and were not toxic to Vero cells, while the other isolated compounds were not active against these P. falciparum strains.

Limonoids from fruiting bodies of the wood-rot basidiomycete Fulvifomes xylocarpicola associated with the mangrove tree Xylocarpus granatum

Three previously undescribed limonoids, fulvifomins A-C, together with two known compounds, 6-deoxydetigloyl-swietenine acetate and methyl angolensate, were isolated from fruiting bodies of the wood-rot fungus Fulvifomes xylocarpicola (Hymenochaetaceae), growing on the mangrove tree Xylocarpus granatum (Meliaceae). The structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometry data, and X-ray crystallographic analysis (for fulvifomin A). A number of similar limonoids have been isolated from higher plants of the family Meliaceae, including X. granatum. The present study represents a unique evidence that the associated basidiomycete also contains these limonoids. Fulvifomin B exhibited moderate antimalarial and antitubercular activites.

Ganoweberianones A and B, Antimalarial Lanostane Dimers from Cultivated Fruiting Bodies of the Basidiomycete Ganoderma weberianum

Two lanostane dimers, ganoweberianones A (1) and B (2), together with seven previously undescribed lanostanes, ganoweberianic acids A-G (3-9), and three known compounds (10-12), were isolated from the artificially cultivated fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Ganoderma weberianum. Ganoweberianone A (1) exhibited significant antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum K1 (multidrug-resistant strain) with an IC₅₀ value of 0.050 μM. A method for semisynthesis of 1 by condensation of the corresponding lanostane monomers and acid-catalyzed intramolecular transesterification was demonstrated.

Antimalarial lanostane triterpenoids from cultivated fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Ganoderma sp

Ten previously undescribed lanostane-type triterpenoids (1-10), together with 15 known lanostanes, were isolated from artificially cultivated fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Ganoderma sp. BCC 21329. The structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometry data and by application of the modified Mosher's method. Compounds 1, 3, 5, and 7 showed moderate antimalarial activity (IC₅₀ 3.8-7.6 μg ml^-1).

Highly Modified Lanostane Triterpenes from the Wood-Rot Basidiomycete Ganoderma colossus: Comparative Chemical Investigations of Natural and Artificially Cultivated Fruiting Bodies and Mycelial Cultures

The wood-rot basidiomycete Ganoderma colossus has been chemically investigated. Comparative analyses of the natural fruiting body, artificially cultivated fruiting bodies, and mycelial cultures resulted in the isolation, in total, of 13 new highly modified lanostanes, ganocolossusins A-H (1-8) and ganodermalactones T-X (9-13), together with 23 known compounds (14-36). There were significant overlaps of the same compounds among the three different states of the fungal materials. Ganocolossusin D (4) displayed the most potent antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum K1 (multi-drug-resistant strain) with an IC₅₀ value of 2.4 μM, while it was noncytotoxic to Vero cells at 50 μg/mL.

Bioactive galloyl flavans from the stems of Helixanthera parasitica

Three new flavans, (2S)-7-O-galloyl-5,3',4'-trihydroxyflavan (1), (2S)-7,3'-O-digalloyl-5,4'-dihydroxyflavan (2), and (2S)-7,4'-O-digalloyl-5,3'-dihydroxyflavan (3), together with four known compounds, (2S)-5,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxyflavan (4), (-)-epicatechin (5), (-)-syringaresinol (6), and methyl gallate (7) have been isolated from the EtOAc extract of the stems of Helixanthera parasitica. Compounds 2 and 3 were obtained as a mixture of positional isomers. The structures of the isolated compounds were established using extensive spectroscopic data. Compound 1 and the mixture of 2 and 3 exhibited significant antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum, with IC₅₀ values of 0.59 and 1.38 μM, respectively. In addition, flavans 1-3 showed cytotoxicity against KB, MCF-7, and NCI-H187 cancer cell lines, with IC₅₀ values in the range of 11.1-30.0 μM.

Antimalarial 9-Methoxystrobilurins, Oudemansins, and Related Polyketides from Cultures of Basidiomycete Favolaschia Species

Fourteen new compounds, oudemansins 1-4, oudemansinols 5-7, favolasins 8-10, favolasinin (12), polyketides 13-15, and (R,E)-2,4-dimethyl-5-phenyl-4-pentene-2,3-diol (16), together with nine known compounds were isolated from the basidiomycete fungus Favolaschia sp. BCC 18686. Two new compounds, favolasin E (11) and 9-oxostrobilurin E (17), were isolated from the closely related organism Favolaschia calocera BCC 36684 along with nine β-methoxyacrylate-type derivatives. Compounds in the class of oudemansins and strobilurins exhibited moderate to strong antimalarial activity with relatively low cytotoxicity against Vero cells (African green monkey kidney fibroblasts). Potent antimalarial activity was demonstrated for 9-methoxystrobilurins G, K, and E (IC₅₀ values 0.061, 0.089, and 0.14 μM, respectively). The structure-activity relationships (SAR) for antimalarial activity is proposed on the basis of the activity of the new and several known β-methoxyacrylate derivatives in combination with the data from previously isolated compounds. Furthermore, several compounds showed specific cytotoxicity against NCI-187 cells (human small-cell lung cancer), although the SAR was different from that for antimalarial activity.

Lanostane triterpenoids from cultivated fruiting bodies of the wood-rot basidiomycete Ganoderma casuarinicola

Sixteen previously undescribed lanostane-type triterpenoids (1-16), together with fourteen known compounds, were isolated from cultivated fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Ganoderma casuarinicola, a recently described species. The structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometry data. Two of these compounds, 9 and 10, showed antimalarial activity with IC₅₀ values of 9.7 and 9.2 μg/ml, respectively.

Depsidones and a dihydroxanthenone from the endophytic fungi Simplicillium lanosoniveum (J.F.H. Beyma) Zare & W. Gams PSU-H168 and PSU-H261

Three new compounds including two depsidones (simplicildones J and K) and one dihydroxanthenone (globosuxanthone E) together with nine known compounds were obtained from the crude extracts of two endophytic fungi Simplicillium lanosoniveum (J.F.H. Beyma) Zare & W. Gams PSU-H168 and PSU-H261 which were isolated from the leaves of Hevea brasiliensis. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic evidence. The absolute configuration of globosuxanthone E was established by means of experimental and calculated TDDFT ECD data. Simplicildone K exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus with equal MIC values of 128 μg/mL. Simplicildone K and globosuxanthone E displayed antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans ATCC90113 with the same MIC values of 32 μg/mL. In addition, known botryohordine C and simplicildone A showed phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitory activity with the IC₅₀ values of 5.69 and 9.96 μM, respectively, and were noncytotoxic toward noncancerous Vero cells.

Natural ACE inhibitory peptides discovery from Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) strain C1

Bioactive peptides from natural sources are utilized as food supplements for disease prevention and are increasingly becoming targets for drug discovery due to their specificity, efficacy and the absence of undesirable side effects, among others. Hence, the 'SpirPep' platform was developed to facilitate the in silico-based bioactive peptide discovery of these highly sought-after biomolecules from Spirulina(Arthrospira platensis) and to select the protease (thermolysin) used for in vitro digestion. Analysis of the predicted and experimentally-derived peptides suggested that they were mainly involved in ACE inhibition; thus, an ACEi assay was used to study the ACE inhibitory activity of five candidate peptides (SpirPep1-5), chosen from common peptides with multifunctional bioactivity and 100% bioactive peptide coverage, originating from phycobiliproteins. Results showed that SpirPep1 inhibited the activity of ACE with IC₅₀ of 1.748 mM and was non-toxic to fibroblasts of African green monkey kidney and human dermal skin. The molecular docking and MD simulation analysis revealed SpirPep1 had significantly lower binding scores than others and showed greater specificity to ACE. The non-bonded interaction energy of SpirPep1 and ACE was -883 kJ/mol. The SpirPep1 indirectly bound to ACE via the ACE substrate binding sites residues (D121, E123, S516, and S517) found in natural ACE inhibitory peptides (angiotensin II and bradykinin potentiating peptides). In addition, two unreported substrate binding sites including R124 and S219 were found. These results indicate that 'SpirPep' platform could increase the success rate for natural bioactive peptide discovery.

A new cytotoxic plumbagin derivative from roots of Diospyros undulata

A new plumbagin derivative, 3-(5-oxohexyl)plumbagin (1), together with six known benzoquinone derivatives (2-7), four known triterpenoids (8-11) and coniferyl aldehyde (12) were isolated from Diospyros undulata roots. Their structures were elucidated by intensive spectroscopy including 1 D and 2 D NMR, UV, IR and MS spectrometric analysis. Compound 1 exhibited strong cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines as lung cancer (NCI-H187), breast cancer (MCF-7), and oral cancer (KB) with IC₅₀ values of 7.16, 12.85 and 28.67 µM, respectively. Moreover, it did not showed cytotoxicity to Vero cells. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of compound 1 was moderate that kill only S. aureus with MBC of 250 µg/mL while other compounds especially compound 4 showed a broader activity that kill all tested bacteria.

Highly Modified Lanostane Triterpenes from Fruiting Bodies of the Basidiomycete Tomophagus sp

Thirty-one highly modified lanostanes (1-31), together with 19 known compounds (32-50), were isolated from fruiting bodies of the wood-rot basidiomycete Tomophagus sp. The structures were elucidated by analyses of HRMS and NMR spectroscopic data. The present work demonstrates the high structural diversity of modified lanostane triterpenoids from Tomophagus. This paper also discusses structural revisions of several known derivatives. Some of the isolated compounds exhibited moderate antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum K1 (IC₅₀ 5.1-19 μM).

Trichothecenes from a Soil-Derived Trichoderma brevicompactum

Six new (1-6), together with seven known (7-13), trichothecenes were isolated from the soil-derived Trichoderma brevicompactum PSU-RSPG27. Their structures were established using spectroscopic data. The structure of 1 was confirmed by X-ray data. Trichodermin (7) exhibited the most potent activity against Plasmodium falciparum (K1 strain) with an IC₅₀ value of 0.1 μM, while other trichothecenes (1, 8, 9, and 12) were much less active, with IC₅₀ values in the range of 7.1-9.6 μM. Compound 7 displayed activity against noncancerous Vero cells with an IC₅₀ value of 0.4 μM. The remaining compounds showed moderate to weak activity, with IC₅₀ values in the range of 6.9-15.3 μM. Compounds 7 and 12 were active against human oral carcinoma (KB) cells with IC₅₀ values of 2.4 and 3.7 μM, respectively. Additionally, compounds 7 and 12 displayed antifungal activity against Candida albicans with the respective MIC values of 1 and 2 μg/mL and were active against Cryptococcus neoformans with equal MIC values of 4 μg/mL.

An engineered mouse embryonic stem cell model with survivin as a molecular marker and EGFP as the reporter for high throughput screening of embryotoxic chemicals in vitro

Embryonic stem cell test (EST) is the only generally accepted in vitro method for assessing embryotoxicity without animal sacrifice. However, the implementation and application of EST for regulatory embryotoxicity screening are impeded by its technical complexity, long testing period, and limited endpoint data. In this study, a high throughput embryotoxicity screening based on mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) driven by a human survivin promoter and a human cytomegalovirus promoter, respectively, was developed. These EGFP expressing mESCs were cultured in three-dimensional (3D) fibrous scaffolds in microbioreactors on a multiwell plate with EGFP fluorescence signals as cell responses to chemicals monitored noninvasively in a high throughput manner. Nine chemicals with known developmental toxicity were used to validate the survivin-based embryotoxicity assay, which showed that strongly embryotoxic compounds such as 5-fluorouracil, retinoic acid, and methotrexate downregulated survivin expression by more than 50% in 3 days, while weakly embryotoxic compounds such as boric acid, methoxyacetic acid, and tetracyclin showed modest downregulation effect and nonembryotoxic saccharin, penicillin G, and acrylamide had negligible downregulation effect on survivin expression, confirming that survivin can be used as a molecular endpoint for high throughput screening of embryotoxicants. The potential developmental toxicity of three Chinese herbal medicines were also evaluated using this assay, demonstrating its application in in vitro developmental toxicity test for drug safety assessment.

Polyoxygenated Cyclohexenes and Their Chlorinated Derivatives from the Leaves of Uvaria cherrevensis

The chemical study of leaf extracts from Uvaria cherrevensis resulted in the identification of 11 new polyoxygenated cyclohexenes, cherrevenols A-K (1-11), and a new seco-cyclohexene derivative, cherrevenol L (12). Nine known compounds (13-21) were also isolated. Three of the isolated compounds are chlorinated polyoxygenated cyclohexenes. The structures of these compounds were determined using spectroscopic methods and, in some cases (compounds 2, 6, 8, and 10), single-crystal X-ray crystallographic structural analysis or chemical correlation (compounds 6 and 7). Compounds 6 and 7 were both isolated as scalemic mixtures (ee 23-24%).

Antimicrobial anthraquinones from cultures of the ant pathogenic fungus Cordyceps morakotii BCC 56811

Five new anthraquinones, morakotins A-E (1-5), together with seven known compounds, lunatin (6), rheoemodin (7), YM187781 (8), bislunatin (9), 6-(1-hydroxypentyl)-4-methoxypyran-2-one, 9,11-dehydoergrosterol peroxide, and cerevisterol, were isolated from the insect pathogenic fungus Cordyceps morakotii BCC 56811. The morakotin structures were elucidated from NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data. The absolute configurations of bianthraquinone compounds, morakotins C-E (3-5), were determined by application of the exciton chirality method. Compounds 3, 7, 8, and 9 showed weak to moderate antimycobacterial and antifungal activities. Compounds 4 and 8 exhibited antibacterial activity against both Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 3.13-25 µg ml^-1), whereas compounds 3 and 9 were active against B. cereus (MIC 12.5 and 3.13 µg ml^-1, respectively), and compound 7 was active against Acinetobacter baumannii (MIC 12.5 µg ml^-1).

Semisynthesis and antibacterial activities of nidulin derivatives

Derivatives of the fungal depsidone, nidulin, have been synthesized in order to evaluate the potential of the chemical skeleton as antibacterial agents. Alkylation, acylation, and arylation reactions of nornidulin underwent in a regioselective manner to predominantly produce 8-O-substituted derivatives. Many of the semisynthetic derivatives showed more potent antibacterial activities than nidulin, In particular, 8-O-aryl ether derivatives displayed significant activities against Gram-positive bacteria, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.