Synthesis and antifungal properties of alpha-methoxy and alpha-hydroxyl substituted 4-thiatetradecanoic acids

Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of a Halophyte from the Asturian Coast (Spain): Limonium binervosum (G.E.Sm.) C.E.Salmon

The work presented herein deals with the characterization and valorization of a halophyte from the cliffs of the Asturian coast: Limonium binervosum (G.E.Sm.) C.E.Salmon (rock sea-lavender). Its biomass and hydromethanolic extracts were studied by elemental and thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Tetradecanoic acid/esters and 1,2-tetradecanediol were identified in its flower extract, while the leaf extract was rich in linolenic and linoleic acids and their esters, hexadecanoic acid and its esters, and phytol. Both flower and leaf hydromethanolic extracts contained eicosane, sitosterol and tocopherols in significant amounts. With a view to its valorization, the antimicrobial activity of these extracts was investigated against three apple tree and grapevine phytopathogens. Both the hydroalcoholic extracts and their main constituents, alone or in combination with chitosan oligomers (COS), were tested in vitro. A remarkable antibacterial activity was observed for the conjugated complexes of the flower extract with COS, both against Xylophilus ampelinus (MIC = 250 μg·mL-1) and Erwinia amylovora (MIC = 500 μg·mL-1), and complete inhibition of the mycelial growth of Diplodia seriata was found at concentrations <1000 μg·mL-1. In view of these results, this extremophile plant can be put forward as a promising source of bioactive metabolites.

Hexanal induces early apoptosis of Aspergillus flavus conidia by disrupting mitochondrial function and expression of key genes

Aspergillus flavus is a notorious saprophytic fungus that compromises the quantity and quality of postharvest grains and produces carcinogenic aflatoxins. The natural compound hexanal disrupts cell membrane synthesis and mitochondrial function and induces apoptosis in A. flavus; here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. The minimum inhibition and fungicidal concentration (MIC and MFC) of hexanal against A. flavus spores were 3.2 and 9.6 μL/mL, respectively. Hexanal exposure resulted in abnormal spore morphology and early spore apoptosis. These changes were accompanied by increased reactive oxygen species production, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, and DNA fragmentation. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that hexanal treatment greatly altered the metabolism of A. flavus spores, including membrane permeability, mitochondrial function, energy metabolism, DNA replication, oxidative stress, and autophagy. This study provides novel insights into the mechanism underlying the antifungal activity of hexanal, suggesting that hexanal can be used an anti-A. flavus agent for agricultural applications. KEY POINTS: • Hexanal exposure resulted in abnormal spore morphology. • The apoptotic characteristics of A. flavus were induced after hexanal treatment. • Hexanal could change the expression of key A. flavus growth-related genes.

The first total synthesis of (±)-4-methoxydecanoic acid: a novel antifungal fatty acid

The hitherto unknown (±)-4-methoxydecanoic acid was synthesized in six steps and in 25% overall yield starting from commercially available 4-penten-1-ol. The title compound demonstrated seventeen fold higher antifungal activity (MIC = 1.5 mM) against Candida albicans ATCC 60193 and Cryptococcus. neoformans ATCC 66031 when compared to unsubstituted n-decanoic acid. Our results demonstrate that Mid-chain methoxylation appears to be a viable strategy for increasing the fungitoxicity of fatty acids.

Study on the anthraquinones separated from the cultivation of Trichoderma harzianum strain Th-R16 and their biological activity

The biocontrol fungal species of Trichoderma, which colonizes plant roots, are well-known for their potential to control plant pathogens. Six anthraquinones, of which four have been identified for the first time from Trichoderma and two have already been reported in other strains, were purified from Trichoderma harzianum strain Th-R16 to evaluate their biological activities. The structures of the compounds were determined by one- and two-dimensional NMR. The compounds were shown to exhibit stronger antifungal activity than antibacterial activity. Low yield compounds, like 1,5-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-9,10-anthraquinone, were found to be more active against fungal pathogens than pachybasin and crysophanol, which were found to be the major extracellular metabolites. Test anthraquinones with higher oxidation numbers had better antifungal activity, and their activities were concentration-dependent.