Antimalarial benzoquinones from an endophytic fungus, Xylaria sp

Dibenzofurans from nature: Biosynthesis, structural diversity, sources, and bioactivities

Dibenzofurans are a small class of natural products with versatile biological activities that used to be thought to come mainly from lichens and ascomycetes. In fact, they are also distributed widely in higher plants, especially in the families Rosaceae and Myrtaceae. Dibenzofurans and derivatives from lichens and ascomycetes have been well reviewed, but dibenzofurans from all biological sources in nature have not been reviewed. In this review, dibenzofurans from all natural sources have been comprehensively reviewed, and a total of 211 dibenzofurans isolated and identified from organisms between 1843 and March 2023 are categorized and discussed, including their biosynthesis, structural diversity, sources, and bioactivities.

Antiproliferative polyketides from fungus Xylaria cf. Longipes SWUF08-81 in different culture media

Bioactive compounds from the wood-decay fungus Xylaria cf. longipes SWUF08-81, cultivated in three different culture media (GM, YM and PDB), were isolated. Their structures and stereochemistry were deduced from spectroscopic and MS data analysis, together with quantum chemical calculations of 13C NMR chemical shifts and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Five undescribed polyketides including dibenzofuran (1), mellein (2), dihydroisocoumarin (15), and two pyrans (16, 17), together with twenty-three compounds were determined. Compounds 18 and 20 were significantly toxic against cancer cell lines (HCT116, HT29, MCF-7 and HeLa) based on the MTT assay. Quantification by HPLC showed that 18 was produced three-fold higher in the broth of PDB than YM. These studies showed that the production of different compounds were primarily dependent on nutrition sources and it has given a starting point for the growth optimization conditions for the scaling up of bioactive compounds production.

Naturally Occurring Organohalogen Compounds-A Comprehensive Review

The present volume is the third in a trilogy that documents naturally occurring organohalogen compounds, bringing the total number-from fewer than 25 in 1968-to approximately 8000 compounds to date. Nearly all of these natural products contain chlorine or bromine, with a few containing iodine and, fewer still, fluorine. Produced by ubiquitous marine (algae, sponges, corals, bryozoa, nudibranchs, fungi, bacteria) and terrestrial organisms (plants, fungi, bacteria, insects, higher animals) and universal abiotic processes (volcanos, forest fires, geothermal events), organohalogens pervade the global ecosystem. Newly identified extraterrestrial sources are also documented. In addition to chemical structures, biological activity, biohalogenation, biodegradation, natural function, and future outlook are presented.

Telescoped Continuous Flow Synthesis of 2-Substituted 1,4-Benzoquinones via Oxidative Dearomatisation of para-Substituted Phenols Using Singlet Oxygen in Supercritical CO2

This paper describes a continuous multi-step synthesis in supercritical CO2. A continuous flow synthesis of 2-substituted 1,4-benzoquinones is reported, and details of the high-pressure reactors are given. This proceeds via the telescoped dearomatisation of p-substituted phenols using singlet oxygen in supercritical CO2 and an acid-mediated C–C migration. The process has a short residence time of 30 minutes, with overall yields and projected productivities of up to 83% and 9 g/day, respectively. This methodology enables a safe and efficient synthesis of 2-substituted 1,4-benzoquinones from photo-generated singlet oxygen, and cheap and readily available p-substituted phenols. The procedure has high atom efficiency, low photocatalyst loading, and substitutes potentially hazardous and corrosive reagents and solvents for molecular oxygen, CO2, and the less hazardous solid-supported acid Amberlyst-15.

Putative Anticancer Compounds from Plant-Derived Endophytic Fungi: A Review

Endophytic fungi are microorganisms that exist almost ubiquitously inside the various tissues of living plants where they act as an important reservoir of diverse bioactive compounds. Recently, endophytic fungi have drawn tremendous attention from researchers; their isolation, culture, purification, and characterization have revealed the presence of around 200 important and diverse compounds including anticancer agents, antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, immunosuppressants, and antimycotics. Many of these anticancer compounds, such as paclitaxel, camptothecin, vinblastine, vincristine, podophyllotoxin, and their derivatives, are currently being used clinically for the treatment of various cancers (e.g., ovarian, breast, prostate, lung cancers, and leukemias). By increasing the yield of specific compounds with genetic engineering and other biotechnologies, endophytic fungi could be a promising, prolific source of anticancer drugs. In the future, compounds derived from endophytic fungi could increase treatment availability and cost effectiveness. This comprehensive review includes the putative anticancer compounds from plant-derived endophytic fungi discovered from 1990 to 2020 with their source endophytic fungi and host plants as well as their antitumor activity against various cell lines.

Fungal quinones: diversity, producers, and applications of quinones from Aspergillus, Penicillium, Talaromyces, Fusarium, and Arthrinium

Quinones represent an important group of highly structurally diverse, mainly polyketide-derived secondary metabolites widely distributed among filamentous fungi. Many quinones have been reported to have important biological functions such as inhibition of bacteria or repression of the immune response in insects. Other quinones, such as ubiquinones are known to be essential molecules in cellular respiration, and many quinones are known to protect their producing organisms from exposure to sunlight. Most recently, quinones have also attracted a lot of industrial interest since their electron-donating and -accepting properties make them good candidates as electrolytes in redox flow batteries, like their often highly conjugated double bond systems make them attractive as pigments. On an industrial level, quinones are mainly synthesized from raw components in coal tar. However, the possibility of producing quinones by fungal cultivation has great prospects since fungi can often be grown in industrially scaled bioreactors, producing valuable metabolites on cheap substrates. In order to give a better overview of the secondary metabolite quinones produced by and shared between various fungi, mainly belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Talaromyces, Fusarium, and Arthrinium, this review categorizes quinones into families such as emodins, fumigatins, sorbicillinoids, yanuthones, and xanthomegnins, depending on structural similarities and information about the biosynthetic pathway from which they are derived, whenever applicable. The production of these quinone families is compared between the different genera, based on recently revised taxonomy. KEY POINTS: • Quinones represent an important group of secondary metabolites widely distributed in important fungal genera such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Talaromyces, Fusarium, and Arthrinium. • Quinones are of industrial interest and can be used in pharmacology, as colorants and pigments, and as electrolytes in redox flow batteries. • Quinones are grouped into families and compared between genera according to the revised taxonomy.

Pipecolisporin, a Novel Cyclic Peptide with Antimalarial and Antitrypanosome Activities from a Wheat Endophytic Nigrospora oryzae

A novel cyclic antimalarial and antitrypanosome hexapeptide, pipecolisporin (1), was isolated from cultures of Nigrospora oryzae CF-298113, a fungal endophyte isolated from roots of Triticum sp. collected in a traditional agricultural land of Montefrío, Granada, Spain. The structure of this compound, including its absolute configuration, was elucidated by HRMS, 1-D and 2-D NMR spectroscopy, and Marfey's analysis. This metabolite displayed interesting activity against Plasmodium falciparum and Trypanosoma cruzi, with IC50 values in the micromolar range, and no significant cytotoxicity against the human cancer cell lines A549, A2058, MCF7, MIA PaCa-2, and HepG2.

From Furan–Yne Systems to para-Benzoquinone Derivatives: Gold-Catalyzed Cyclization and Oxidation, and Further Reduction by Sodium Dithionate

A series of furan–yne systems were transformed into the corresponding para-benzoquinone derivatives by gold(ΙΙΙ) catalyst. The two-step procedure consisted of a phenol synthesis and subsequent oxidation with iodobenzene diacetate. The reactions can be carried out in a one-pot procedure with the same precatalyst. The para-benzoquinone could simply be converted into the corresponding hydroquinones by reduction with sodium dithionate. This protocol features high efficiency, mild conditions, and wide substrate scopes.

Naturally Occurring Isocoumarins Derivatives from Endophytic Fungi: Sources, Isolation, Structural Characterization, Biosynthesis, and Biological Activities

Recently, the metabolites separated from endophytes have attracted significant attention, as many of them have a unique structure and appealing pharmacological and biological potentials. Isocoumarins represent one of the most interesting classes of metabolites, which are coumarins isomers with a reversed lactone moiety. They are produced by plants, microbes, marine organisms, bacteria, insects, liverworts, and fungi and possessed a wide array of bioactivities. This review gives an overview of isocoumarins derivatives from endophytic fungi and their source, isolation, structural characterization, biosynthesis, and bioactivities, concentrating on the period from 2000 to 2019. Overall, 307 metabolites and more than 120 references are conferred. This is the first review on these multi-facetted metabolites from endophytic fungi.

Antimicrobial activities of an oxygenated cyclohexanone derivative isolated from Amphirosellinia nigrospora JS-1675 against various plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi

AIMS

To evaluate the antimicrobial activities of an active compound isolated from the culture broth of Amphirosellinia nigrospora JS-1675 against various plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi.

METHODS AND RESULTS

While screening for bioactive secondary metabolites from endophytic fungi, we found that A. nigrospora JS-1675 showed strong in vitro antibacterial activity against Ralstonia solanacearum. One compound (1) was isolated and identified as (4S, 5S, 6S)-5,6-epoxy-4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methyl-cyclohex-2-en-1-one. Growth of most of the tested phytopathogenic bacteria was inhibited by compound 1 and the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) layer except Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans. Compound 1 also inhibited the mycelial growth of several plant pathogenic fungi. Both compound 1 and the EtOAc layer reduced bacterial leaf spot disease in detached peach leaves. They also suppressed the development of bacterial wilt on tomato seedlings quite effectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Amphirosellinia nigrospora JS-1675 showed antimicrobial activity against plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi by producing compound 1.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This is the first report on the occurrence of compound 1 in A. nigrospora JS-1675 and its efficacy against plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Their strong disease control efficacy against tomato bacterial wilt suggests that this fungus can be used as a microbial bactericide.

Depsidones and an α-pyrone derivative from Simplicillium sp. PSU-H41, an endophytic fungus from Hevea brasiliensis leaf [corrected]

Nine previously undescribed depsidones (simplicildones A-I) and one previously undescribed α-pyrone (simplicilopyrone) were isolated from the endophytic fungus Simplicillium sp. PSU-H41 along with 11 known compounds. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Simplicildone A and known botryorhodine C displayed weak antibacterial against Staphylococcus aureus with equal MIC values of 32 μg/mL. Additionally, botryorhodine C was active against methicillin-resistant S. aureus with the same MIC value. Simplicildone C exhibited weak antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans with an MIC value of 32 μg/mL. In addition, simplicildones A and C and botryorhodine C were noncytotoxic against noncancerous Vero cells.

Synthesis of diverse heterocycles via one-pot cascade cross-dehydrogenative-coupling (CDC)/cyclization reaction

A cascade Cross-Dehydrogenative-Coupling (CDC)/cyclization methodology has been developed for the synthesis of diverse scaffolds.

Phytotoxic Potential of Secondary Metabolites and Semisynthetic Compounds from Endophytic Fungus Xylaria feejeensis Strain SM3e-1b Isolated from Sapium macrocarpum

Bioactivity-directed fractionation of the combined culture medium and mycelium extract of the endophytic fungus Xylaria feejeensis strain SM3e-1b, isolated from Sapium macrocarpum, led to the isolation of three known natural products: (4S,5S,6S)-4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methyl-5,6-epoxycyclohex-2-enone or coriloxine, 1; 2-hydroxy-5-methoxy-3-methylcyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione, 2; and 2,6-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-3-methylcyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione or fumiquinone B, 3. This is the first report of compound 3 being isolated from this species. Additionally, four new derivatives of coriloxine were prepared: (4R,5S,6R)-6-chloro-4,5-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methylcyclohex-2-enone, 4; 6-hydroxy-5-methyl-3-(methylamino)cyclohexa-2,5- diene-1,4-dione, 5; (4R,5R,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methyl-6-(phenylamino)cyclohex-2-enone, 6; and 2-((4-butylphenyl)amino)-5-methoxy-3-methylcyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione, 7. X-ray analysis allowed us to unambiguously determine the structures and absolute configuration of semisynthetic derivatives 4, 5, and 6. The phytotoxic activity of the three isolated natural products and the coriloxine derivatives is reported. Germination of the seed, root growth, and oxygen uptake of the seedlings of Trifolium pratense, Medicago sativa, Panicum miliaceum, and Amaranthus hypochondriacus were significantly inhibited by all of the tested compounds. In general, they were more effective inhibiting root elongation than suppressing the germination and seedling oxygen uptake processes as shown by their IC50 values.

Bridged Epipolythiodiketopiperazines from Penicillium raciborskii, an Endophytic Fungus of Rhododendron tomentosum Harmaja

Three new epithiodiketopiperazine natural products [outovirin A (1), outovirin B (2), and outovirin C (3)] resembling the antifungal natural product gliovirin have been identified in extracts of Penicillium raciborskii, an endophytic fungus isolated from Rhododendron tomentosum. The compounds are unusual for their class in that they possess sulfide bridges between α- and β-carbons rather than the typical α-α bridging. To our knowledge, outovirin A represents the first reported naturally produced epimonothiodiketopiperazine, and antifungal outovirin C is the first reported trisulfide gliovirin-like compound. This report describes the identification and structural elucidation of the compounds by LC-MS/MS and NMR.

Antifungal, anti-oomycete and phytotoxic effects of volatile organic compounds from the endophytic fungus Xylaria sp. strain PB3f3 isolated from Haematoxylon brasiletto

AIMS

To determine the antifungal, anti-oomycete and phytotoxic activity; and chemical composition of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by endophytic fungus Xylaria sp. PB3f3 isolated from Haematoxylon brasiletto Karst.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Bioactivity and chemical composition of the VOCs from Xylaria sp. PB3f3 were established by using simple and multiple antagonism bioassays, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, respectively. The results showed that Xylaria sp. PB3f3 inhibited the growth of the oomycetes Pythium aphanidermatum (78·3%), Phytophthora capsici (48·3%), and the fungi Alternaria solani (24·5%) and Fusarium oxysporum (24·2%), in multiple antagonism bioassays. Volatile organic compounds, produced at 20 and 30 days of fungal growth, inhibited root elongation on Amaranthus hypochondriacus (27·6%) and on Solanum lycopersicum (53·2%). Forty VOCs were identified at 10, 20 and 30 days in Xylaria sp. PB3f3 cultures. The compounds with the highest fibre affinity were: 3-methyl-1-butanol and thujopsene, at 10 days of fungal growth; an unidentified amine and 2-methyl-1-butanol at 20 days; and 2-methyl-1-propanol at 30 days. In the gas phase assay method 2-methyl-1-propanol and 2-methyl-1-butanol showed significant inhibitory effects on root elongation and germination of Am. hypochondriacus and S. lycopersicum.

CONCLUSIONS

Xylaria sp. PB3f3 and its VOCs showed significant phytotoxic effects on root elongation and germination of Am. hypochondriacus and S. lycopersicum.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The genus Xylaria produces a great variety of secondary metabolites, but, up date, there are no reports of the identification of bioactive volatile compounds. Thus, Xylaria sp. PB3f3 and its VOCs are a possible candidate for the biological control of weeds.

α-Glucosidase Inhibitors from a Xylaria feejeensis Associated with Hintonia latiflora

Two new compounds, pestalotin 4'-O-methyl-β-mannopyranoside (1) and 3S,4R-(+)-4-hydroxymellein (2), were isolated from an organic extract of a Xylaria feejeensis, which was isolated as an endophytic fungus from Hintonia latiflora. In addition, the known compounds 3S,4S-(+)-4-hydroxymellein (3), 3S-(+)-8-methoxymellein (4), and the quinone derivatives 2-hydroxy-5-methoxy-3-methylcyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione (5), 4S,5S,6S-4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methyl-5,6-epoxycyclohex-2-en-1-one (6), and 4R,5R-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methylcyclohexen-2-en-1-one (7) were obtained. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated using a set of spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques. The absolute configuration of the stereogenic centers of 1 and 2 was determined using ECD spectroscopy combined with time-dependent density functional theory calculations. In the case of 1, comparison of the experimental and theoretical (3)J6-7 coupling constants provided further evidence for the stereochemical assignments. Compounds 2 and 3 inhibited Saccharomyces cerevisiae α-glucosidase (αGHY), with IC50 values of 441 ± 23 and 549 ± 2.5 μM, respectively. Their activity was comparable to that of acarbose (IC50 = 545 ± 19 μM), used as positive control. Molecular docking predicted that both compounds bind to αGHY in a site different from the catalytic domain, which could imply an allosteric type of inhibition.

Bipolamides A and B, triene amides isolated from the endophytic fungus Bipolaris sp. MU34

As a result of the continued screening for new metabolites produced by endophytic fungi from Thai medicinal plants, two new triene fatty acid amides, bipolamides A (1) and B (2), were discovered from the endophytic fungus Bipolaris sp. MU34. The structures of all of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of the spectroscopic data of NMR and MS. An antimicrobial assay revealed that bipolamide B (2) had moderate antifungal activity against Cladosporium cladosporioides FERMS-9, Cladosporium cucumerinum NBRC 6370, Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 9804, Aspergillus niger ATCC 6275 and Rhisopus oryzae ATCC 10404, with Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 16, 32, 32, 64 and 64 μg ml(-1), respectively.

Enhancement of anti-candidal activity of endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. ED2, isolated from Orthosiphon stamineus Benth, by incorporation of host plant extract in culture medium

This study examined the effect of host extract in the culture medium on anti-candidal activity of Phomopsis sp. ED2, previously isolated from the medicinal herb Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. Interestingly, upon addition of aqueous host extract to the culture medium, the ethyl acetate extract prepared from fermentative broth exhibited moderate anti-candidal activity in a disc diffusion assay. The minimal inhibitory concentration of this extract was 62.5 μg/ml and it only exhibited fungistatic activity against C. albicans. In the time-kill study, a 50% growth reduction of C. albicans was observed at 31.4 h for extract from the culture incorporating host extract. In the bioautography assay, only one single spot (Rf 0.59) developed from the extract exhibited anti-candidal activity. A spot with the a similar Rf was not detected for the crude extract from YES broth without host extract. This indicated that the terpenoid anti-candidal compound was only produced when the host extract was introduced into the medium. The study concluded that the incorporation of aqueous extract of the host plant into the culture medium significantly enhanced the anti-candidal activity of Phomopsis sp. ED2.

Screening and evaluation of antiparasitic and in vitro anticancer activities of Panamanian endophytic fungi

Many compounds produced by fungi have relevant pharmaceutical applications. The purpose of this study was to collect and isolate endophytic fungi from different regions of Panama and then to test their potential therapeutic activities against Leishmania donovani, Plasmodium falciparum, and Trypanosoma cruzi as well as their anticancer activities in MCF-7 cells. Of the 25 fungal isolates obtained, ten of them had good anti-parasitic potential, showing selective activity against L. donovani; four had significant anti-malarial activity; and three inhibited the growth of T. cruzi. Anticancer activity was demonstrated in four isolates. Of the active isolates, Edenia sp. strain F0755, Xylaria sp. strain F1220, Aspergillus sp. strain F1544, Mycoleptodiscus sp. strain F0194, Phomopsis sp. strain F1566, Pycnoporus sp. strain F0305, and Diaporthe sp. strain F1647 showed the most promise based on their selective bioactivity and lack of toxicity in the assays.

Sourcing the Fungal Endophytes: A Beneficial Transaction of Biodiversity, Bioactive Natural Products, Plant Protection and Nanotechnology

Endophytes are the group of microorganisms that reside to internal and healthy tissues without causing negative symptoms to their host plant. Endophytes are extremely diverse and range from fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes. Development of drug resistance to pathogenic forms of bacteria, fungi and other microbes, emergence of lethal viruses, the perpetuating epidemics in developing and under developing countries, and multifold fungal infection, enhancement in human population globally, all shows our inability to overcome these biomedical problems. In addition to this, we are also unable to assure people towards enough food security in specific regions of the earth due to infestation of different plant diseases. Since the fungal endophytes are relatively less studied group of microbial flora, but are responsible for several prospects such as biodiversity, ecology, bioactive metabolites (metabolomics) and nanotechnology, may enable us to overcome the above mentioned problems. Fungal endophytes represent a dependable source of specific secondary metabolites and can be manipulated both physicochemically and genetically to increase yield of desired compounds and to produce novel analogues of active metabolites. In this chapter, we have discussed several bioactive compounds and classified them in to different classes as per their properties such as antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antimalarial, anticancer, antioxidants, antidiabetic and immunosuppressive agents derived from fungal endophytes with their hosts and made the chemical structures for 73 compounds using chemdraw 3D ultra version 7.0. These bioactive products are related to human health with MIC/EC/IC₅₀ values less that 50 μg/mL. This article also discusses nematicidal, some antimicrobial volatile compounds (VOCs) that are related to plant protection and faecal disposal. Therefore, this chapter is not very specific and covers almost prospects of fungal endophytes which could be useful in biodiversity, agrochemicals, biotechnology, biomedical and nanotechnology in ecofriendly manner.

(4S,5S,6S)-4-Hy-droxy-3-meth-oxy-5-methyl-5,6-ep-oxy-cyclo-hex-2-en-1-one

The title compound, C₈H₁₀O₄, was isolated from culture extracts of the endophytic fungus Xylaria sp. (PB-30). The cyclo­hexenone ring exhibits a flattened boat conformation. In the crystal structure, mol­ecules related by translation along the b axis are linked into chains through O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Weak non-classical C—H⋯O contacts are also observed in the structure.

Chemical and Functional Diversity of Natural Products from Plant Associated Endophytic Fungi

This review describes examples of naturally occurring bioactive compounds obtained from fungal endophytes from various host plants. The main topics addressed are sources, identification, biological activity, biosynthesis, and ecological and chemosystematic significance of those bioactive compounds whose sources were well defined.