New lanostane-type triterpenes from Fomes officinalis

Characterisation and identification of chemical constituents in aqueous extract of Fomes officinalis Ames based on ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry

INTRODUCTION

Fungal species are an attractive resource for physiologically functional food and drug precursor. Fomes officinalis Ames, a medicinal fungus, is traditionally used as a folk medicine in traditional Chinese medicine prescription for the therapy of cough and asthma. The water-soluble substances in Chinese herbal medicines are likely to play an important physiological function. However, information on probing and identifying chemical components of the aqueous extract of Fomes officinalis Ames (AFO) remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to screen and characterise the chemical components of AFO.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An effective and sensitive ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-HRMS) method with the Full MS/PIL/dd-MS2 acquisition approach was applied for the profiling of chemical components in AFO. An HSS T3 column was used for component separation, and a strategy of simultaneous targeted and untargeted multicomponent characterisation was implemented. Multiple identification approaches were used, including accurate molecular mass and elemental composition matching, literature and database searching, and fragmentation rules elucidation.

RESULTS

A total of 115 components, including 20 amino acids and derivatives, six nucleobases, nine nucleosides, 75 dipeptides, two tripeptides, and three other components, were tentatively identified. Among them, the targeted exploring method screened six nucleobases and nine nucleosides including modified nucleosides. To our best knowledge, this is the first time a report has been done on the presence of the 115 compounds in AFO.

CONCLUSION

Profiling and characterisation compounds of AFO enriched its material basis, which would lay the foundation for improving potential medicinal and nutritional values and effecting comprehensive quality control of Fomes officinalis Ames.

Fomitopsis officinalis: Spatial (Pileus and Hymenophore) Metabolomic Variations Affect Functional Components and Biological Activities

Fomitopsis officinalis is a holartic polyporous mushroom that forms large fruiting bodies on old standing trees, fallen logs, or stumps. F. officinalis is a medicinal mushroom species that is most commonly used in traditional European medicine. In this study, we explore the spatial metabolic differences in F. officinalis' mushroom parts, i.e., the cap (median and apical parts) and the hymenium. Additionally, chromatographic analysis was conducted in order to unravel the composition of specialized metabolites in the hydroalcoholic mushroom extracts. The potential antifungal and bacterial effects of extracts were tested against pathogen strains of Gram+ and Gram- bacteria, and yeast, dermatophytic, and fungal-pool species. Extracts from the apical part were the richest in terms of phenolic compounds; consistent with this finding, the extracts were also the most effective antiradical and antimicrobial agents with MIC values < 100 µg/mL for most of the tested bacterial and dermatophytic species. According to these findings, F. officinalis extracts are valuable sources of primary and secondary metabolites, thus suggesting potential applications in the formulation of food supplements with biological properties in terms of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

Neurotrophic and Immunomodulatory Lanostane Triterpenoids from Wood-Inhabiting Basidiomycota

Neurotrophins such as nerve growth factor (ngf) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (bdnf) play important roles in the central nervous system. They are potential therapeutic drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. In this study, we investigated the neurotrophic properties of triterpenes isolated from fruiting bodies of Laetiporus sulphureus and a mycelial culture of Antrodia sp. MUCL 56049. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in combination with high-resolution electrospray mass spectrometry (HR-ESIMS). The secondary metabolites were tested for neurotrophin (ngf and bdnf) expression levels on human astrocytoma 1321N1 cells. Neurite outgrowth activity using rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells was also determined. Twelve triterpenoids were isolated, of which several potently stimulated the expression of neurotrophic factors, namely, ngf (sulphurenic acid, 15α-dehydroxytrametenolic acid, fomefficinic acid D, and 16α-hydroxyeburicoic acid) and bdnf (sulphurenic acid and 15α-dehydroxytrametenolic acid), respectively. The triterpenes also potentiated ngf-induced neurite outgrowth in PC-12 cells. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report on the compound class of lanostanes in direct relation to bdnf and ngf enhancement. These compounds are widespread in medicinal mushrooms; hence, they appear promising as a starting point for the development of drugs and mycopharmaceuticals to combat neurodegenerative diseases. Interestingly, they do not show any pronounced cytotoxicity and may, therefore, be better suited for therapy than many other neurotrophic compounds that were previously reported.

Two New Triterpenes from Basidiomata of the Medicinal and Edible Mushroom, Laetiporus sulphureus

In the search for novel anti-infectives from natural sources, fungi, in particular basidiomycetes, have proven to still harbor so much potential in terms of secondary metabolites diversity. There have been numerous reports on isolating numerous secondary metabolites from genus Laetiporus. This study reports on two new triterpenoids, laetiporins C and D, and four known triterpenes from the fruiting body of L. sulphureus. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated based on their 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data in combination with high-resolution electrospray mass spectrometric (HR-ESIMS) data. Laetiporin C exhibited weak antifungal activity against Mucor hiemalis. Furthermore, the compounds showed weak antiproliferative activity against the mouse fibroblast L929 and human cancer cell lines, including KB-3-1, A431, MCF-7, PC-3 and A549.

Sesquiterpenes and Steroids from an Endophytic Eutypella scoparia

A chemical investigation on the EtOAc extract of the endophytic fungus Eutypella scoparia SCBG-8 led to the isolation of eight new sesquiterpenes eutyscoparins A-H (1-8), one C-28 steroid eutyscoparene A (9), one triterpenoid eutyscoparene B (10), six known terpenoids, and two known steroids. Their structures including absolute configurations were established on the basis of spectroscopic data analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Compound 7 displayed antibacterial activity against S. aureus and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) with MIC values of 6.3 μg/mL.

Anti-Oxidant and Anticancerous Effect of Fomitopsis officinalis (Vill. ex Fr. Bond. et Sing) Mushroom on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells In Vitro through NF-kB Pathway

BACKGROUND

Fomitopsis officinalis (Vill. ex Fr. Bond. et Sing) is a medicinal mushroom, commonly called 'Agarikon', traditionally used to treat cough and asthma in the Mongolian population.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to examine the significance of biological activity of F. officinalis, and evaluate the antioxidant and anticancer activity of six fractions of F. officinalis residues (Fo1-powder form dissolved in ethanol, Fo2-petroleum ether residue, Fo3-chloroformic, Fo4-ethylacetate, Fo5-buthanolic, and Fo6-water-ethanolic) against hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

METHODS

We performed in vitro studies of cell proliferation and viability assay, annexin V-FITC/Propidium Iodide assay, and NF-kB signaling pathway by immunoblot analysis.

RESULTS

Our findings revealed that all six fractions/extracts have antioxidant activity, and somehow, they exert anticancerous effects against cancer cells. In cancerous cell lines (HepG2 and LO2), Fo3 chloroformic extract promoted the cancer cell apoptosis, cell viability, activated G2/M-phase cell cycle, and selectively induced NF-kB proteins, revealing itself as a novel antitumor extract.

CONCLUSION

This study reports that Fo3-chloroformic extract is rich in antitumor activity; it was previously not investigated in cancer. To study the impact of F. officinalis among natural products to treat/prevent oxidative stress disorders or cancers, further examinations are needed. However, this study assessed only one extract, Fo3-chloroformic, which has a significant impact on cancer cell lines.

Cytotoxic triterpenoids and triterpene sugar esters from the medicinal mushroom Fomitopsis betulina

Thirteen undescribed 24-methylene lanostane triterpenoids, named polyporenic acids E-M and fomitosides L-O, as well as seventeen known analogues, were isolated from the fruiting bodies of the mushroom Fomitopsis betulina. Their structures were determined using 1D, 2D NMR, IR, and HRESIMS. Fomitoside L and fomitoside N exhibited cytotoxicity against HL60 leukemia cells (IC₅₀ = 15.8 and 23.7 μM, respectively). Among the known compounds, notable cytotoxicities against HL60 leukemia cells and selectivity with respect to MRC-5 healthy cells were noticed for dehydropachymic acid (IC₅₀ = 10.9 μM, SI 8.6), pachymic acid (IC₅₀ = 11.0 μM, SI 9.8), 3-epi-dehydrotumulosic acid (IC₅₀ = 19.9 μM, SI 5.8) and 12α-hydroxy-3α-(3'-hydroxy-4'-methoxycarbonyl-3'-methylbutyryloxy)-24-methyllanosta-8,24 (31)-dien-26-oic acid (IC₅₀ = 19.2 μM, SI 2.2).

Lanostane Triterpenoids from the Fruiting Bodies of Fomes officinalis and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activities

In the current study, further chemical investigation of the fruiting bodies of Fomes officinalis led to isolate seven new 24-methyl-lanostane triterpenoids, named officimalonic acids I-O (1-7). Their structures were elucidated based on the analysis of spectroscopic data (HR-MS, 1D and 2D NMR, UV, IR). Compounds 1-3 possessed an unusual C-23 spirostructure moiety, while compounds 4-7 had 23,26-lactone unit. Anti-inflammatory assay revealed that compounds 3 and 5 exhibited significant inhibitory activities against NO production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells and cyclooxygenase (COX-2).

Steroid sulfatase inhibiting lanostane triterpenes - Structure activity relationship and in silico insights

Steroid sulfatase (STS) transforms hormone precursors into active steroids. Thus, it represents a target of intense research regarding hormone-dependent cancers. In this study, three ligand-based pharmacophore models were developed to identify STS inhibitors from natural sources. In a pharmacophore-based virtual screening of a curated molecular TCM database, lanostane-type triterpenes (LTTs) were predicted as STS ligands. Three traditionally used polypores rich in LTTs, i.e., Ganoderma lucidum Karst., Gloeophyllum odoratum Imazeki, and Fomitopsis pinicola Karst., were selected as starting materials. Based on eighteen thereof isolated LTTs a structure activity relationship for this compound class was established with piptolinic acid D (1), pinicolic acid B (2), and ganoderol A (3) being the most pronounced and first natural product STS inhibitors with IC₅₀ values between 10 and 16 µM. Molecular docking studies proposed crucial ligand target interactions and a prediction tool for these natural compounds correlating with experimental findings.

Antimicrobial properties of Fomitopsis officinalis in the light of its bioactive metabolites: a review

Fomitopsis officinalis, also known as Laricifomes officinalis, is a medicinal polypore used for millennia (Agarikon) to contrast several diseases, particularly the pulmonary ones. A rich literature has dealt with its ethno-mycological aspects, but isolation and chemical characterisation of single compounds has only recently significantly developed, as well as in vitro tests for bioactivity. According to several reports there is evidence of a broad-spectrum antibacterial and antiviral activity by F. officinalis, including pathogens like Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as Ortopox virus. Chlorinated coumarins from mycelia and lanostane triterpenoids from basidiomes have been demonstrated to be directly responsible for antiviral-antibacterial and trypanocidal activity, respectively. A wider literature deals instead with crude extracts including an undetermined mixture of metabolites, whose efficacy in vitro is yet far from being standardised as extraction and treatment methodology are highly variable. Nevertheless, in vivo tests on bees provided promising results in order to develop sustainable solutions against the pathogens responsible for colony collapse disorders. Despite increasing attention has been paid to other medicinal aspects of this polypore, such as immune-tropic or antitumor, this review rationally reports and critically analyses the available knowledge by focusing on aspects of antimicrobial properties.

A Unique Naphthone Derivative and a Rare 4,5-seco-Lanostane Triterpenoid from Poria cocos

A previously undescribed naphthalenone derivative, sohiracillinone (1), and a novel 4,5-seco-lanostane triterpenoid, 11β-ethoxydaedaleanic acid A (2) were isolated with two new lanostane triterpenoids, ceanphytamic acids A (3) and B (4), from the EtOH extract of Poria cocos along with 17 known compounds 5⁻21. The absolute configuration of sohiracillinone (1) was unambiguously identified by NMR and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data. The structures of other new compounds were elucidated on the basis of NMR and mass spectroscopy (MS), and the cytotoxic activities of all the isolated components were evaluated.

Lanostane triterpenoids from Fomitopsis officinalis and their trypanocidal activity

Fomitopsis officinalis is a medicinal fungus, known as 'Agarikon', and is used traditionally in the treatment of asthma and rheumatism in Mongolia. The investigation of the chemical constituents of F. officinalis led to the isolation of 4 new lanostane triterpenoids together with 4 known triterpenoids. Inhibitory activity against Trypanosoma congolense, which causes fatal diseases in animals including livestock, was estimated for the isolated compounds. Compounds 2-5 and 8 exhibited moderate inhibition activities with IC₅₀ values ranging from 7.0-27.1 µM.

Miscellaneous lanostane triterpenoids with cytotoxicities from fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Stereum sp

Ten new highly oxygenated lanostane triterpenoids, stereinones A-J (1-10), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Stereum sp. Compounds 3 and 4 are structurally characterized as intact lanostane-type triterpenoids containing unusual 1,2-diketone functionality at C-11 and C-12, while compound 10 is a 24-methylene-lanostane. The structures of these new compounds were established based on detailed 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses, along with quantum chemical NMR calculations. All isolates were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicities against five human tumor cell lines (including HL-60, A-549, SMMC-7721, MCF-7, and SW480 cell lines). Compound 4 showed moderate cytotoxic activities against tumor cell lines SMMC-7721 and SW480 with IC₅₀ values of 9.1 and 9.8μM, respectively.

Officimalonic acids A-H, lanostane triterpenes from the fruiting bodies of Fomes officinalis

Phytochemical investigation of the methanolic extract of the fruiting bodies of Fomes officinalis led to the isolation of eight 24-methyl-lanostane triterpenes named officimalonic acids A-H, along with one known lanostane triterpene. Their structures were elucidated based on the analysis of spectroscopic data, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and electronic circular dichroism. Officimalonic acid A represents a previously unknown triterpene type with a 24-methyl-7(8 → 9)abeo-lanostane skeleton, and all of the compounds possessed a malonate half-ester moiety at C-3. Anti-inflammatory assay revealed that officimalonic acids D, E, G, H, and fomitopsin A showed potent inhibitory effects (IC50 = 5.1-8.9 μM) on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells. Officimalonic acids E, G, H showed moderate cytotoxicity against H460, HepG2 and BGC-823 human cell lines.

Six New Lanostane Triterpenoids from the Fruiting Body of Tyromyces Sambuceus and Antiproliferative Activity

During the search for secondary metabolites with antiproliferative activity, six new lanostane triterpenoids, tyrosamic acids A-F (1–6) together with ten known compounds (7–16), were isolated from the fruiting body of Tyromyces sambuceus. Their structures were elucidated using MS analyses, extensive 2D-heteronuclear NMR data interpretation and the structure of 3 was further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray data analyses. All lanostane triterpenoids (1–16) possesses a carboxy group at C-20 position and their strength of antiproliferative activity was affected by the presence or absence of a hydroxy group at C-15 position and at the side chain. Four of the compounds (1, 6, 10, 14) showed antiproliferative activities against human cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 16.8–48.3 μM (HL-60).

A new drimane sesquiterpenoid and a new triterpene lactone from fungus of Fomes officinalis

A new sesquiterpenoid fomeffic acid (1) and a new triterpene lactone fomefficinin (2) were isolated from the fungus Fomes officinalis, together with another six known compounds fomitopsin C (3), dehydrosulfurenic acid (4), dehydroeburiconic acid (5), dehydroeburicoic acid (6), 3-keto-dehydrosulfurenic acid (7), and laricinolic acid (8). The structures and stereochemistry of 1 and 2 were determined by NMR and X-ray diffraction analyses. The sesquiterpenoid and five triterpenes were tested for cytotoxicity against HL-60, Bel-7402, and KB cancer lines in vitro, and they appeared to be modestly active.

European medicinal polypores--a modern view on traditional uses

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In particular five polypore species, i.e. Laetiporus sulphureus, Fomes fomentarius, Fomitopsis pinicola, Piptoporus betulinus, and Laricifomes officinalis, have been widely used in central European folk medicines for the treatment of various diseases, e.g. dysmenorrhoea, haemorrhoids, bladder disorders, pyretic diseases, treatment of coughs, cancer, and rheumatism. Prehistoric artefacts going back to over 5000 years underline the long tradition of using polypores for various applications ranging from food or tinder material to medicinal-spiritual uses as witnessed by two polypore species found among items of Ötzi, the Iceman. The present paper reviews the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and biological activity of the five mentioned polypores.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All available information on the selected polypore taxa used in traditional folk medicine was collected through evaluation of literature in libraries and searches in online databases using SciFinder and Web of Knowledge.

RESULTS

Mycochemical studies report the presence of many primary (e.g. polysaccharides) and secondary metabolites (e.g. triterpenes). Crude extracts and isolated compounds show a wide spectrum of biological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial activities.

CONCLUSIONS

The investigated polypores possess a longstanding ethnomycological tradition in Europe. Here, we compile biological results which highlight their therapeutic value. Moreover, this work provides a solid base for further investigations on a molecular level, both compound- and target-wise.

Chlorinated coumarins from the polypore mushroom Fomitopsis officinalis and their activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

An EtOH extract of the polypore mushroom Fomitopsis officinalis afforded two new naturally occurring chlorinated coumarins, which were identified as the previously synthesized compounds 6-chloro-4-phenyl-2H-chromen-2-one (1) and ethyl 6-chloro-2-oxo-4-phenyl-2H-chromen-3-carboxylate (2). The structures of the two isolates were deduced by ab initio spectroscopic methods and confirmed by chemical synthesis. In addition, an analogue of each was synthesized as 7-chloro-4-phenyl-2H-chromen-2-one (3) and ethyl 7-chloro-2-oxo-4-phenyl-2H-chromen-3-carboxylate (4). All four compounds were characterized physicochemically, and their antimicrobial activity profiles revealed a narrow spectrum of activity with lowest MICs against the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.

Triterpenes from the fungus Poria cocos and their inhibitory activity on nitric oxide production in mouse macrophages via blockade of activating protein-1 pathway

Two new triterpenes, 29-hydroxydehydrotumulosic acid (1) and 29-hydroxydehydropachymic acid (2), together with six known compounds, dehydropachymic acid (3), dehydrotumulosic acid (4), 29-hydroxypolyporenic acid C (5), polyporenic acid C (6), tumulosic acid (7), and pachymic acid (8), were isolated from the dried sclerotia of Poria cocos. In the in vitro bioassays, these isolated compounds reduced, in a dose-dependent manner, nitric oxide (NO) production from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells, with compounds 5 and 6, the IC(50) values of which were 16.8±2.7 and 18.2±3.3 μM, respectively, exhibiting the greatest inhibition activity. Further Western blot analysis conducted on cells pre-treated with compounds 5 and 6, and luciferase assays on activator protein 1-dependent gene expression revealed that the inhibited NO release was attributed to the reduced expression of iNOs (=inducible NO synthase) enzymes, which might be regulated via the blockade of activator protein-1 signaling pathway.

Letter: Electrospray ionization mass spectral characteristics and fragmentation mechanisms of triterpenoids in Fomes officinalis

The electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric characteristics and fragmentation mechanisms of 12 triterpenoid compounds from Fomes officinalis (F. officinalis) and their analogs were investigated. The compounds could be classified into three types depending on their chemical structures. All of the compounds gave [M-H](-) and [2M-H](-) ions by electrospray negative ionization mode. In addition, the members of three isomeric groups of the analogs with the same elemental composition can be distinguished by tandem mass spectra of protonated molecules and of significant fragmention. The above fragmentations were reported for the first time and were implemented for the analysis of triterpenoids in F. officinalis.

Quantitative determination of lanostane triterpenes in Fomes officinalis and their fragmentation study by HPLC-ESI

INTRODUCTION

The fruit bodies of Fomes officinalis are used for the treatment of coughs, gastric cancer, rheumatism and hydropsia; however, no method is currently available to assess the quality of this medicinal fungus based on quantitative profile of its main triterpenes.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a simple and accurate HPLC-UV method for the simultaneous quantification of five lanostane-type triterpenes in the fruit bodies of F. officinalis.

METHOD

Separations were performed on an Agilent Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C(18) column by gradient elution using acetonitrile : formic acid. Analytes were identified by HPLC coupled with electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry experiments. The quantitative HPLC-UV method was validated for linearity, precision, accuracy and limits of detection and quantification.

RESULTS

Calibration curves presented good linear regression (r > 0.9996) within test ranges. The relative standard deviation of this method was less than 1.7% for intra- and inter-day assays and overall recoveries were 96.4-104.1% for the five compounds analysed. The method was successfully applied to the quantification of five triterpenes in 16 samples of F. officinalis collected from different regions.

CONCLUSION

The developed assay could be considered as a suitable quality control method for F. officinalis.

Four new triterpenes from fungus of Fomes officinalis

In the previous work we reported five lanostane-type triterpenes from the CHCl(3) soluble fraction of Fomes officinalis. In further study on the isolation of constituents from the CHCl(3) soluble fraction, four new triterpenes, fomefficinic acids F (1), G (2) and fomefficinols A (3), B (4), together with seven known compounds officinalic acid (5), fomlactone A (6), fomlactone B (7), fomlactone C (8), laricinolic acid (9), ergosterol (10), ergota-7,22,dien-3beta-ol (11) were isolated. The structures of new compounds were determined by spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods including NMR spectroscopic techniques ((13)C, (1)H, heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (HMQC), heteronuclear multiple bonding correlation (HMBC), correlation spectroscopy (COSY) and nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY)).

Triterpenoids

This review covers the isolation and structure determination of triterpenoids including squalene derivatives, lanostanes, cycloartanes, dammaranes, euphanes, tirucallanes, tetranortriterpenoids, quassinoids, lupanes, oleananes, friedelanes, uranes, hopanes, isomalabaricanes and saponins. The literature from January to December 2004 is reviewed and 243 references are cited.