Chaetone G, a new dibenzo[b,e]oxepinone from the insect pathogenic fungus Aschersonia luteola BCC 31749

Muyocoxanthones O-S: Undescribed xanthones with antioxidative damage bioactivity to cardiomyocytes from the endophytic fungus Muyocopron laterale

The metabolites from the endophytic fungus Muyocopron laterale hosted in the medicinal plant Tylophora ovata were investigated, and five undescribed xanthones, muyocoxanthones O-S, along with seven known compounds were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by HR-ESI-MS, NMR, and ECD calculations. Compounds were evaluated for their anti-cardiomyocyte oxidative damage activity using a model of oxidative damage induced by cell hypoxia incubation. Muyocoxanthones O-Q and blennolide L exhibited moderate activity against oxidative damage to cardiomyocytes with relative viabilities of 62.4, 54.8, 60.3 and 54.9%, respectively.

Structure and Biological Activity of Ergostane-Type Steroids from Fungi

Mushrooms are known not only for their taste but also for beneficial effects on health attributed to plethora of constituents. All mushrooms belong to the kingdom of fungi, which also includes yeasts and molds. Each year, hundreds of new metabolites of the main fungal sterol, ergosterol, are isolated from fungal sources. As a rule, further testing is carried out for their biological effects, and many of the isolated compounds exhibit one or another activity. This study aims to review recent literature (mainly over the past 10 years, selected older works are discussed for consistency purposes) on the structures and bioactivities of fungal metabolites of ergosterol. The review is not exhaustive in its coverage of structures found in fungi. Rather, it focuses solely on discussing compounds that have shown some biological activity with potential pharmacological utility.

Bioactive Dimeric Tetrahydroxanthones with 2,2'- and 4,4'-Axial Linkages from the Entomopathogenic Fungus Aschersonia confluens

Thirteen tetrahydroxanthone dimers, atrop-ascherxanthone A (1), ascherxanthones C-G (2-6), and confluxanthones A-G (7-13), were isolated from the entomopathogenic fungus Aschersonia confluens BCC53152. The chemical structures were determined based on analysis of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data. The absolute configurations of compounds 1 and 7 were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments, while the configurations of other compounds were assigned based upon evidence from NOESY and NOEDIFF experiments, modified Mosher's method, and ECD spectroscopic data together with biogenetic considerations. Compounds 1, 3-5, 7-11, and 13 showed antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum (K1, multidrug-resistant strain) (IC₅₀ 0.6-6.1 μM), antitubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra (MIC 6.3-25.0 μg/mL), and cytotoxicity against NCI-H187 (IC₅₀ 0.5-3.5 μM) and Vero (IC₅₀ 0.9-6.1 μM) cells. All tested compounds except for compound 9 exhibited cytotoxicity against KB cells (IC₅₀ 1.3-9.7 μM).

Secondary metabolites from hypocrealean entomopathogenic fungi: novel bioactive compounds

Covering: 2014 up to the third quarter of 2019 Entomopathogens constitute a unique, specialized trophic subgroup of fungi, most of whose members belong to the order Hypocreales (class Sordariomycetes, phylum Ascomycota). These Hypocrealean Entomopathogenic Fungi (HEF) produce a large variety of secondary metabolites (SMs) and their genomes rank highly for the number of predicted, unique SM biosynthetic gene clusters. SMs from HEF have diverse roles in insect pathogenicity as virulence factors by modulating various interactions between the producer fungus and its insect host. In addition, these SMs also defend the carcass of the prey against opportunistic microbial invaders, mediate intra- and interspecies communication, and mitigate abiotic and biotic stresses. Thus, these SMs contribute to the role of HEF as commercial biopesticides in the context of integrated pest management systems, and provide lead compounds for the development of chemical pesticides for crop protection. These bioactive SMs also underpin the widespread use of certain HEF as nutraceuticals and traditional remedies, and allowed the modern pharmaceutical industry to repurpose some of these molecules as life-saving human medications. Herein, we survey the structures and biological activities of SMs described from HEF, and summarize new information on the roles of these metabolites in fungal virulence.

Fungal benzene carbaldehydes: occurrence, structural diversity, activities and biosynthesis

Covering: up to April 2020Fungal benzene carbaldehydes with salicylaldehydes as predominant representatives carry usually hydroxyl groups, prenyl moieties and alkyl side chains. They are found in both basidiomycetes and ascomycetes as key intermediates or end products of various biosynthetic pathways and exhibit diverse biological and pharmacological activities. The skeletons of the benzene carbaldehydes are usually derived from polyketide pathways catalysed by iterative fungal polyketide synthases. The aldehyde groups are formed by direct PKS releasing, reduction of benzoic acids or oxidation of benzyl alcohols.

New nitrogen-containing metabolites from cultures of rice false smut pathogen Villosiclava virens

Two new nitrogen-containing metabolites methyl N-acetyl-O-(4-acetylphenyl)-L-homoserinate (1), dimethyl (1H-indole-3-carbonyl)-D-glutamate (2), and two new natural products, 1,2-O-isopropylidene-D-mannitol (3), N-acetyl-β-methyl-L-phenylalanine (4), along with five known compounds (5-9) were isolated from the rice false smut pathogen Villosiclava virens UV-8b cultured in the solid rice medium. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of their physical and spectroscopic data with the literature. These metabolites were evaluated for their antibacterial and phytotoxic activities. Compounds 5-7 showed weak inhibition against the tested bacteria, while compounds 4-6 and 9 displayed inhibitory activity against the radicle elongation of rice seeds.

A visible-light-induced cascade reaction of etherification/C-C cyclization: efficient synthesis of dibenzo[b,d]oxepin-7(6H)-ones

A visible-light-induced palladium-catalyzed cascade reaction was developed by etherification/C-C coupling cyclization of α-bromoacetophenones with phenols. A series of dibenzo[b,d]oxepin-7(6H)-one derivatives were efficiently synthesized by using this method in good yields. Furthermore, this method was applied to the synthesis of protosappanin A. The protocol has advantages such as simple reaction conditions, wide range of substrates and high reaction efficiency.