Pentaketides and 5-p-Hydroxyphenyl-2-pyridone Derivative from the Culture Extract of a Marine Sponge-Associated Fungus Hamigera avellanea KUFA0732

Five undescribed pentaketide derivatives, (R)-6,8-dihydroxy-4,5-dimethyl-3-methylidene-3,4-dihydro-1H-2-benzopyran-1-one (1), [(3S,4R)-3,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-4,5-dimethyl-1-oxo-3,4-dihydro-1H-isochromen-3-yl]methyl acetate (2), (R)-5, 7-dimethoxy-3-((S)-(1-hydroxyethyl)-3,4-dimethylisobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (4b), (S)-7-hydroxy-3-((S)-1-hydroxyethyl)-5-methoxy-3,4-dimethylisobenzofuran 1(3H)-one (5), and a p-hydroxyphenyl-2-pyridone derivative, avellaneanone (6), were isolated together with the previously reported (R)-3-acetyl-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-3,4-dimethylisobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (3), (R)-7-hydroxy-3-((S)-1-hydroxyethyl)-5-methoxy-3,4-dimethylisobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (4a) and isosclerone (7), from the ethyl acetate extract of a culture of a marine sponge-derived fungus, Hamigera avellanea KUFA0732. The structures of the undescribed compounds were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR, as well as high-resolution mass spectral analyses. The absolute configurations of the stereogenic carbons in 1, 4b, 5, and 6 were established by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The absolute configurations of C-3 and C-4 in 2 were determined by ROESY correlations and on the basis of their common biosynthetic origin with 1. The crude fungal extract and the isolated compounds 1, 3, 4b, 5, 6, and 7 were assayed for their growth inhibitory activity against various plant pathogenic fungi viz. Alternaria brassicicola, Bipolaris oryzae, Colletotrichum capsici, C. gloeosporiodes, Curvularia oryzae, Fusarium semitectum, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Phytophthora palmivora, Pyricularia oryzae, Rhizoctonia oryzae and Sclerotium rolfsii.

New Hybrid Phenalenone Dimer, Highly Conjugated Dihydroxylated C28 Steroid and Azaphilone from the Culture Extract of a Marine Sponge-Associated Fungus, Talaromyces pinophilus KUFA 1767

An undescribed hybrid phenalenone dimer, talaropinophilone (3), an unreported azaphilone, 7-epi-pinazaphilone B (4), an unreported phthalide dimer, talaropinophilide (6), and an undescribed 9R,15S-dihydroxy-ergosta-4,6,8 (14)-tetraen-3-one (7) were isolated together with the previously reported bacillisporins A (1) and B (2), an azaphilone derivative, Sch 1385568 (5), 1-deoxyrubralactone (8), acetylquestinol (9), piniterpenoid D (10) and 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methylphthalaldehydic acid (11) from the ethyl acetate extract of the culture of a marine sponge-derived fungus, Talaromyces pinophilus KUFA 1767. The structures of the undescribed compounds were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR as well as high-resolution mass spectral analyses. The absolute configuration of C-9' of 1 and 2 was revised to be 9'S using the coupling constant value between C-8' and C-9' and was confirmed by ROESY correlations in the case of 2. The absolute configurations of the stereogenic carbons in 7 and 8 were established by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Compounds 1,2, 4-8, 10 and 11 were tested for antibacterial activity against four reference strains, viz. two Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212) and two Gram-negative (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853), as well as three multidrug-resistant strains, viz. an extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli, a methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and a vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis (VRE). However, only 1 and 2 exhibited significant antibacterial activity against both S. aureus ATCC 29213 and MRSA. Moreover, 1 and 2 also significantly inhibited biofilm formation in S. aureus ATCC 29213 at both MIC and 2xMIC concentrations.

New Alkylpyridinium Anthraquinone, Isocoumarin, C-Glucosyl Resorcinol Derivative and Prenylated Pyranoxanthones from the Culture of a Marine Sponge-Associated Fungus, Aspergillus stellatus KUFA 2017

An unreported isocoumarin, (3S,4R)-4-hydroxy-6-methoxymellein (2), an undescribed propylpyridinium anthraquinone (4), and an unreported C-glucosyl resorcinol derivative, acetyl carnemycin E (5c), were isolated, together with eight previously reported metabolites including p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (1), 1,3-dimethoxy-8-hydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone (3a), 1,3-dimethoxy-2,8-dihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone (3b), emodin (3c), 5[(3E,5E)-nona-3,5-dien-1-yl]benzene (5a), carnemycin E (5b), tajixanthone hydrate (6a) and 15-acetyl tajixanthone hydrate (6b), from the ethyl acetate extract of the culture of a marine sponge-derived fungus, Aspergillus stellatus KUFA 2017. The structures of the undescribed compounds were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR and high resolution mass spectral analyses. In the case of 2, the absolute configurations of the stereogenic carbons were determined by comparison of their calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. The absolute configurations of the stereogenic carbons in 6a and 6b were also determined, for the first time, by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Compounds 2, 3a, 3b, 4, 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, and 6b were assayed for antibacterial activity against four reference strains, viz. two Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212) and two Gram-negative (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853), as well as three multidrug-resistant strains. However, only 5a exhibited significant antibacterial activity against both reference and multidrug-resistant strains. Compound 5a also showed antibiofilm activity against both reference strains of Gram-positive bacteria.

Bioactive Compounds from Terrestrial and Marine-Derived Fungi of the Genus Neosartorya †

Fungi comprise the second most species-rich organism group after that of insects. Recent estimates hypothesized that the currently reported fungal species range from 3.5 to 5.1 million types worldwide. Fungi can grow in a wide range of habitats, from the desert to the depths of the sea. Most develop in terrestrial environments, but several species live only in aquatic habitats, and some live in symbiotic relationships with plants, animals, or other fungi. Fungi have been proved to be a rich source of biologically active natural products, some of which are clinically important drugs such as the β-lactam antibiotics, penicillin and cephalosporin, the immunosuppressant, cyclosporine, and the cholesterol-lowering drugs, compactin and lovastatin. Given the estimates of fungal biodiversity, it is easy to perceive that only a small fraction of fungi worldwide have ever been investigated regarding the production of biologically valuable compounds. Traditionally, fungi are classified primarily based on the structures associated with sexual reproduction. Thus, the genus Neosartorya (Family Trichocomaceae) is the telemorphic (sexual state) of the Aspergillus section known as Fumigati, which produces both a sexual state with ascospores and an asexual state with conidiospores, while the Aspergillus species produces only conidiospores. However, according to the Melbourne Code of nomenclature, only the genus name Aspergillus is to be used for both sexual and asexual states. Consequently, the genus name Neosartorya was no longer to be used after 1 January 2013. Nevertheless, the genus name Neosartorya is still used for the fungi that had already been taxonomically classified before the new rule was in force. Another aspect is that despite the small number of species (23 species) in the genus Neosartorya, and although less than half of them have been investigated chemically, the chemical diversity of this genus is impressive. Many chemical classes of compounds, some of which have unique scaffolds, such as indole alkaloids, peptides, meroterpenes, and polyketides, have been reported from its terrestrial, marine-derived, and endophytic species. Though the biological and pharmacological activities of a small fraction of the isolated metabolites have been investigated due to the available assay systems, they exhibited relevant biological and pharmacological activities, such as anticancer, antibacterial, antiplasmodial, lipid-lowering, and enzyme-inhibitory activities.

Anthraquinones, Diphenyl Ethers, and Their Derivatives from the Culture of the Marine Sponge-Associated Fungus Neosartorya spinosa KUFA 1047

Previously unreported anthraquinone, acetylpenipurdin A (4), biphenyl ether, neospinosic acid (6), dibenzodioxepinone, and spinolactone (7) were isolated, together with (R)-6-hydroxymellein (1), penipurdin A (2), acetylquestinol (3), tenellic acid C (5), and vermixocin A (8) from the culture of a marine sponge-associated fungus Neosartorya spinosa KUFA1047. The structures of the previously unreported compounds were established based on an extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectra as well as HRMS data. The absolute configurations of the stereogenic centers of 5 and 7 were established unambiguously by comparing their calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Compounds 2 and 5–8 were tested for their in vitro acetylcholinesterase and tyrosinase inhibitory activities as well as their antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative reference, and multidrug-resistant strains isolated from the environment. The tested compounds were also evaluated for their capacity to inhibit biofilm formation in the reference strains.

Prenylated phenylbutyrolactones from cultures of a marine sponge-associated fungus Aspergillus flavipes KUFA1152

Four undescribed prenylated phenylbutyrolactones, aspulvinones R, S, T and U, were isolated together with the previously reported aspulvinones A, B', H and 4-hydroxy-3,5-bis(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)benzaldehyde, from cultures of the marine sponge-derived fungus Aspergillus flavipes KUFA1152. The structures of the undescribed compounds were established on the basis of extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR and HRMS spectra. In the case of aspulvinone T, the absolute configuration of its stereogenic carbon was established by comparison of the experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. The structure of the previously reported compounds were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR analysis as well as comparison of their ¹H or/and ¹³C NMR data with those reported in the literature. Aspulvinones B', H, R, S, T and a mixture of aspulvinones A and U exhibited antibacterial activity against reference strains and multidrug-resistant isolates from the environment as well as capacity to inhibit biofilm formation in the reference strains. However, none of the tested compounds showed potential synergy with clinically relevant antibiotics on multidrug-resistant isolates.

1,3-Dioxepine and spiropyran derivatives of viomellein and other dimeric naphthopyranones from cultures of Aspergillus elegans KUFA0015 and their antibacterial activity

Two undescribed viomellein derivatives, xanthoelegansin and spiroxanthoelegansin, were isolated together with clavatol, sitosteanone, vioxanthin, xanthomegnin, viomellein, rubrosulphin, rubrosulphin diacetate, viopurpurin , ochratoxin A, ochratoxin A methyl ester, ochratoxin B and ochratoxin β, from cultures of the marine sponge-associated fungus Aspergillus elegans KUFA0015. The structures of the undescribed compounds were established based on an extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectra as well as HRMS data. The structure of xanthoelegansin and the absolute configuration of its stereogenic carbons were confirmed by X-ray analysis. The change in conformation of xanthoelegansin was interpreted using quantum mechanical theoretical calculation data in combination with the observation of the change of the proton signals of the 1,3-dioxepine ring in 1HNMR spectra at varying temperatures. The mechanisms of the formation of xanthoelegansin and spiroxanthoelegansin from viomellein were proposed. Clavatol, sitosteanone, vioxanthin, xanthomegnin, viomellein, xanthoelegansin, rubrosulphin, rubrosulphin diacetate, ochratoxin A, ochratoxin A methyl ester, ochratoxin B and ochratoxin β were assayed for their antibacterial activity against reference strains and multidrug-resistant isolates from the environment. The tested compounds were also evaluated for their capacity to inhibit biofilm formation in the reference strains.

Efficacy of fungicides in controlling rice blast and dirty panicle diseases in Thailand

In this study, the fungicidal activities of the fungicides azoxystrobin, difenoconazole + propiconazole, carbendazim, flutriafol, fluopyram + tebuconazole, mancozeb and thiophanate-methyl against rice blast and dirty panicle pathogens were evaluated under laboratory and field conditions. Mancozeb exhibited the highest level of fungicidal activity against the blast pathogen Pyricularia oryzae, with an EC₅₀ value of 0.25 parts per million (ppm). The combination of two fungicides, fluopyram + tebuconazole, showed the strongest fungicidal effect against Bipolaris oryzae and Curvularia lunata, with EC₅₀ values of 0.587 ppm and 0.435 ppm, respectively. Meanwhile, carbendazim and flutriafol demonstrated the best level of fungicidal activity against Fusarium incarnatum, with the lowest EC₅₀ values of 0.211 ppm and 0.214 ppm, respectively. The results showed that the fungicides, triazole and strobilurin, had significant effects against rice blast and dirty panicle diseases. The combination of fluopyram + tebuconazole, when applied twice, was the most effective in reducing dirty panicle disease by up to 60% and increasing rice yield by 29% more than the untreated control. Fluopyram + tebuconazole, difenoconazole + propiconazole, flutriafol and azoxystrobin achieved stronger fungicidal activity against rice blast disease, reducing its severity by 32-33% when applied twice by foliar spraying. However, carbendazim, mancozeb and thiophanate-methyl had low to moderate fungicidal activity against both rice diseases in this study.

Can marine-derived fungus Neosartorya siamensis KUFA 0017 extract and its secondary metabolites enhance antitumor activity of doxorubicin? An in vitro survey unveils interactions against lung cancer cells

Doxorubicin (Dox) is one of the most successful anticancer drugs in use. However, chemoresistance is one of the main limitations that patients face. Therefore, development of new strategies to improve the efficacy of Dox is needed. Marine-derived fungi are especially promising sources of new anticancer compounds. In this work, antitumor activity of crude ethyl extract of the cultures of the marine-derived fungus Neosartorya siamensis KUFA 0017 (NS), combined with Dox, was evaluated in six cancer cell lines. To evaluate possible mechanisms involved in the eventual improvement of Dox's cytotoxicity by NS extract, effects on DNA damage, cell death, ultrastructural modifications, and intracellular accumulation of Dox were assessed. The NS extract demonstrated a significant enhancement of Dox's cytotoxic activity in A549 cells, inducing DNA damage, cell death, and intracellular accumulation of Dox. Additionally, the cytotoxic effect of eight compounds, isolated from this extract, that is, 2,4-dihydroxy-3-methylacetophenone-(C1), nortryptoquivaline-(C2), chevalone C-(C3), tryptoquivaline H-(C4), fiscalin A-(C5), epi-fiscalin-C (C6), epi-neofiscalin A-(C7), and epi-fiscalin A-(C8), alone and combined with Dox was also evaluated in lung cancer cells. The cytotoxic effect of Dox was potentiated by all the isolated compounds (except C1) in A549 cells. Therefore, we concluded that NS extract potentiated cytotoxicity by inhibiting cell proliferation, increasing intracellular accumulation of Dox, and inducing cell death (possibly by an autophagic process). The isolated compounds also enhanced the activity of Dox, supporting the potential of this sort of combination. These data call for further studies to characterize drug interactions and underlying mechanisms.

Biological Control of Fruit Rot and Anthracnose of Postharvest Mango by Antagonistic Yeasts from Economic Crops Leaves

To select antagonistic yeasts for the control of fruit rot caused by Lasiodiplodiatheobromae and anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in postharvest mango fruit, 307 yeast strains isolated from plant leaves were evaluated for their antagonistic activities against these two fungal pathogens in vitro. Torulaspora indica DMKU-RP31, T. indica DMKU-RP35 and Pseudozyma hubeiensis YE-21 were found to inhibit the growth of L. theobromae whereas only Papiliotrema aspenensis DMKU-SP67 inhibited the growth of C. gloeosporioides. Antagonistic mechanisms of these four antagonistic yeasts in vitro consisted of the production of antifungal volatile organic compounds (VOCs), biofilm formation and siderophore production. T. indica DMKU-RP35 was the most effective strain in controlling fruit rot on postharvest mango fruits. Its action was comparable to that of the fungicide, benomyl, reducing the disease severity by 82.4%, whereas benomyl revealed 87.5% reduction. P. aspenensis DMKU-SP67 reduced anthracnose severity by 94.1%, which was comparable to that of using benomyl (93.9%). The antifungal VOCs produced by these yeast strains also reduced the severity of these diseases on postharvest mango fruits but at lower rates than using yeast cells. Therefore, these antagonistic yeasts have the potential for use as biological control agents for the control of fruit rot and anthracnose diseases.

Erubescensoic Acid, a New Polyketide and a Xanthonopyrone SPF-3059-26 from the Culture of the Marine Sponge-Associated Fungus Penicillium erubescens KUFA 0220 and Antibacterial Activity Evaluation of Some of Its Constituents

A new polyketide erubescensoic acid (1), and the previously reported xanthonopyrone, SPF-3059-26 (2), were isolated from the uninvestigated fractions of the ethyl acetate crude extract of the marine sponge-associated fungus Penicillium erubescens KUFA0220. The structures of the new compound, erubescensoic acid (1), and the previously reported SPF-3059-26 (2), were elucidated by extensive analysis of 1D and 2D-NMR spectra as well as HRMS. The absolute configuration of the stereogenic carbon of erubescensoic acid (1) was determined by X-ray analysis. Erubescensoic acid (1) and SPF-3059-26 (2), together with erubescenschromone B (3), penialidin D (4), and 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-4-oxo-3-[(1E)-3-oxobut-1-en-1-yl]-4H-chromen-5-carboxylic acid (5), recently isolated from this fungus, were assayed for their antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative reference strains and the multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains from the environment. The capacity of these compounds to interfere with the bacterial biofilm formation and their potential synergism with clinically relevant antibiotics for the MDR strains were also investigated.

Bis-Indolyl Benzenoids, Hydroxypyrrolidine Derivatives and Other Constituents from Cultures of the Marine Sponge-Associated Fungus Aspergillus candidus KUFA0062

A previously unreported bis-indolyl benzenoid, candidusin D (2e) and a new hydroxypyrrolidine alkaloid, preussin C (5b) were isolated together with fourteen previously described compounds: palmitic acid, clionasterol, ergosterol 5,8-endoperoxides, chrysophanic acid (1a), emodin (1b), six bis-indolyl benzenoids including asterriquinol D dimethyl ether (2a), petromurin C (2b), kumbicin B (2c), kumbicin A (2d), 2″-oxoasterriquinol D methyl ether (3), kumbicin D (4), the hydroxypyrrolidine alkaloid preussin (5a), (3S, 6S)-3,6-dibenzylpiperazine-2,5-dione (6) and 4-(acetylamino) benzoic acid (7), from the cultures of the marine sponge-associated fungus Aspergillus candidus KUFA 0062. Compounds 1a, 2a-e, 3, 4, 5a-b, and 6 were tested for their antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative reference and multidrug-resistant strains isolated from the environment. Only 5a exhibited an inhibitory effect against S. aureus ATCC 29213 and E. faecalis ATCC29212 as well as both methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) strains. Both 1a and 5a also reduced significant biofilm formation in E. coli ATCC 25922. Moreover, 2b and 5a revealed a synergistic effect with oxacillin against MRSA S. aureus 66/1 while 5a exhibited a strong synergistic effect with the antibiotic colistin against E. coli 1410/1. Compound 1a, 2a-e, 3, 4, 5a-b, and 6 were also tested, together with the crude extract, for cytotoxic effect against eight cancer cell lines: HepG2, HT29, HCT116, A549, A 375, MCF-7, U-251, and T98G. Except for 1a, 2a, 2d, 4, and 6, all the compounds showed cytotoxicity against all the cancer cell lines tested.

A New Dihydrochromone Dimer and Other Secondary Metabolites from Cultures of the Marine Sponge-Associated Fungi Neosartorya fennelliae KUFA 0811 and Neosartorya tsunodae KUFC 9213

A previously unreported dihydrochromone dimer, paecilin E (1), was isolated, together with eleven known compounds: β-sitostenone, ergosta-4,6,8 (14), 22-tetraen-3-one, cyathisterone, byssochlamic acid, dehydromevalonic acid lactone, chevalone B, aszonalenin, dankasterone A (2), helvolic acid, secalonic acid A and fellutanine A, from the culture filtrate extract of the marine sponge-associated fungus Neosartorya fennelliae KUFA 0811. Nine previously reported metabolites, including a chromanol derivative (3), (3β, 5α, 22E), 3,5-dihydroxyergosta-7,22-dien-6-one (4), byssochlamic acid, hopan-3β,22-diol, chevalone C, sartorypyrone B, helvolic acid, lumichrome and the alkaloid harmane were isolated from the culture of the marine-sponge associated fungus Neosartorya tsunodae KUFC 9213. Paecilin E (1), dankasterone A (2), a chromanol derivative (3), (3β, 5α, 22E)-3,5-dihydroxyergosta-7,22-dien-6-one (4), hopan-3β,22-diol (5), lumichrome (6), and harmane (7) were tested for their antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative reference and multidrug-resistant strains isolated from the environment. While paecilin E (1) was active against S. aureus ATCC 29213 and E. faecalis ATCC 29212, dankastetrone A (2) was only effective against E. faecalis ATCC 29212 and the multidrug-resistant VRE E. faecalis A5/102. Both compounds neither inhibit biofilm mass production in any of the strains at the concentrations tested nor exhibit synergistic association with antibiotics.

Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of the metabolites isolated from the culture of the mangrove-derived endophytic fungus Eurotium chevalieri KUFA 0006

Five previously undescribed metabolites, including acetylquestinol, two prenylated indole 3-carbaldehyde derivatives, an anthranilic acid derivative and an isochromone derivative, were isolated, in addition to eleven known compounds: palmitic acid, ergosterol 5,8-endoperoxide, emodin, physcion, questin, questinol, (11S, 14R)-cyclo(tryptophylvalyl), preechinulin, neoechinulin E, echinulin and eurocristatine, from the culture of the endophytic fungus Eurotium chevalieri KUFA 0006. The structures of the previously undescribed compounds were established based on an extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectral analysis as well as HRMS and IR data. In case of 2-(2, 2-dimethylcyclopropyl)-1H-indole-3-carbaldehyde and 6, 8-dihydroxy-3-(2S-hydroxypropyl)-7-methylisochromone, the absolute configurations of their stereogenic carbons were established based on comparison of their experimental and calculated ECD spectra. All the compounds, except for palmitic acid and ergosterol 5, 8-endoperoxide, were evaluated for their antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against two Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria, as well as multidrug-resistant isolates from the environment. Emodin not only exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria but also showed strong synergistic association with oxacillin against MRSA Staphylococcus aureus.

A New Ergosterol Analog, a New Bis-Anthraquinone and Anti-Obesity Activity of Anthraquinones from the Marine Sponge-Associated Fungus Talaromyces stipitatus KUFA 0207

A new ergosterol analog, talarosterone (1) and a new bis-anthraquinone derivative (3) were isolated, together with ten known compounds including palmitic acid, ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one, ergosterol-5,8-endoperoxide, cyathisterone (2), emodin (4a), questinol (4b), citreorosein (4c), fallacinol (4d), rheoemodin (4e) and secalonic acid A (5), from the ethyl acetate extract of the culture of the marine sponge-associated fungus Talaromyces stipitatus KUFA 0207. The structures of the new compounds were established based on extensive 1D and 2D spectral analysis, and in the case of talarosterone (1), the absolute configurations of its stereogenic carbons were determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The structure and stereochemistry of cyathisterone (2) was also confirmed by X-ray analysis. The anthraquinones 4a-e and secalonic acid A (5) were tested for their anti-obesity activity using the zebrafish Nile red assay. Only citreorosein (4c) and questinol (4b) exhibited significant anti-obesity activity, while emodin (4a) and secalonic acid A (5) caused toxicity (death) for all exposed zebrafish larvae after 24 h.

Marine-derived Fungi Extracts Enhance the Cytotoxic Activity of Doxorubicin in Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer Cells A459

Background:

Drug resistance is a major concern in the current chemotherapeutic approaches and the combination with natural compounds may enhance the cytotoxic effects of the anticancer drugs. Therefore, this study evaluated the cytotoxicity of crude ethyl extracts of six marine-derived fungi – Neosartorya tsunodae KUFC 9213 (E1), Neosartorya laciniosa KUFC 7896 (E2), Neosartorya fischeri KUFC 6344 (E3), Aspergillus similanensis KUFA 0013 (E4), Neosartorya paulistensis KUFC 7894 (E5), and Talaromyces trachyspermum KUFC 0021 (E6) – when combined with doxorubicin (Dox), in seven human cancer cell lines.

Materials and Methods:

The antiproliferative activity was primarily assessed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay.

Results:

Two extracts, E1 and E2, demonstrated a significant enhancement of Dox’s cytotoxicity in nonsmall cell lung cancer A549 cells. Accumulation of Dox in the nuclei increased when A549 cells were treated in combination with extracts E1 and E2, with induction of cell death observed by the nuclear condensation assay. The combination of E2 with Dox increased the DNA damage as detected by the comet assay. Ultrastructural observations by transmission electron microscopy suggest an autophagic cell death due to an increase of autophagic vesicles, namely with the combination of Dox with E1 and E2.

Conclusion:

These findings led to the conclusion that the fungal extracts E1 and E2 potentiate the anticancer action of Dox, through nuclear accumulation of Dox with induction of cell death mainly by cytotoxic autophagy.

SUMMARY

Fungal extracts increase the cytotoxic activity of doxorubicin (Dox) in lung cancer cells

Nuclear accumulation of Dox, DNA damage, and cell death as a mechanism of action

Fungal extracts may potentiate the anticancer activity of conventional drugs.

Abbreviations Used: A375: Human malignant melanoma cell line, A549: Human non small lung cancer cell line, DAPI: 4,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole, DMEM: Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium, DMSO: Dimethylsulfoxide, Dox: Doxorubicin, DSBs: DNA double-strand breaks, E1: Neosartorya tsunodae KUFC 9213, E2: Neosartorya laciniosa KUFC 7896, E3: Neosartorya fischeri KUFC 6344, E4: Aspergillus similanensis KUFA 0013, E5: Neosartorya paulistensis KUFC 7894, E6: Talaromyces trachyspermum KUFC 0021, FBS: Fetal bovine serum, HCT116: Human colorectal carcinoma cell line, HEPES: (N-[2-hydroxyethyl] piperazine-N’- [2-ethane-sulfonic acid]), HepG2: Human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HT29: Human Caucasian colon adenocarcinoma Grade II cell line, IC₅₀: Concentration of the extract or Dox that inhibits cell viability by 50%, LRP: Lung resistance-related protein, MCF7: Human breast adenocarcinoma cell line, MEM: Minimum Essential Medium Eagle, MRPs: Multidrug resistance-associated proteins, MTT: 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, PBS: Phosphate-buffered saline, NSCLC: Nonsmall cell lung cancer, P-gp: P-glycoprotein, ROS: Reactive oxygen species, RPMI: Roswell Park Memorial Institute Medium, TEM: Transmission electron microscopy, U251: Human glioblastoma astrocytoma cell line.

New Cyclotetrapeptides and a New Diketopiperzine Derivative from the Marine Sponge-Associated Fungus Neosartorya glabra KUFA 0702

Two new cyclotetrapeptides, sartoryglabramides A (5) and B (6), and a new analog of fellutanine A (8) were isolated, together with six known compounds including ergosta-4, 6, 8 (14), 22-tetraen-3-one, ergosterol 5, 8-endoperoxide, helvolic acid, aszonalenin (1), (3R)-3-(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)-3,4-dihydro-1H-1,4-benzodiazepine-2,5-dione (2), takakiamide (3), (11aR)-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine-5,11(10H,11aH)-dione (4), and fellutanine A (7), from the ethyl acetate extract of the culture of the marine sponge-associated fungus Neosartorya glabra KUFA 0702. The structures of the new compounds were established based on extensive 1D and 2D spectral analysis. X-ray analysis was also used to confirm the relative configuration of the amino acid constituents of sartoryglabramide A (5), and the absolute stereochemistry of the amino acid constituents of sartoryglabramide A (5) and sartoryglabramides B (6) was determined by chiral HPLC analysis of their hydrolysates by co-injection with the d- and l- amino acids standards. Compounds 1-8 were tested for their antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922) and Gram-negative (Staphyllococus aureus ATCC 25923) bacteria, as well as for their antifungal activity against filamentous (Aspergillus fumigatus ATCC 46645), dermatophyte (Trichophyton rubrum ATCC FF5) and yeast (Candida albicans ATCC 10231). None of the tested compounds exhibited either antibacterial (MIC > 256 μg/mL) or antifungal activities (MIC > 512 μg/mL).

Neofiscalin A and fiscalin C are potential novel indole alkaloid alternatives for the treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections

Ten indole alkaloids were obtained from the marine sponge-associated fungus Neosartorya siamensis KUFA 0017. We studied the antimicrobial properties of these and of three other compounds previously isolated from the soil fungus N. siamensis KUFC 6349. Only neofiscalin A showed antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE); with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 8 μg mL(-1) against both strains. Another compound, fiscalin C, presented synergistic activity against MRSA when combined with oxacillin, although alone showed no antibacterial effect. Moreover, neofiscalin A, when present at sub-MICs, hampered the ability of both MRSA and VRE strains to form a biofilm. Additionally, the biofilm inhibitory concentration values of neofiscalin A against the MRSA and VRE isolates were 96 and 80 μg mL(-1), respectively. At a concentration of 200 μg mL(-1), neofiscalin A was able to reduce the metabolic activity of the biofilms by ∼50%. One important fact is that our results also showed that neofiscalin A had no cytotoxicity against a human brain capillary endothelial cell line.

Secondary Metabolites from the Culture of the Marine Sponge-Associated Fungi Talaromyces tratensis and Sporidesmium circinophorum

Wortmin (1), meso-1,4-bis(4-methoxybenzyl)-2,3-butanediol (2), and a new isocoumarin derivative tratenopyrone (3) were isolated from the marine sponge-associated fungus Talaromyces tratensis KUFA 0091. A new diphenyl ether derivative, circinophoric acid (4), was isolated, together with the previously reported anthraquinones catenarin and physcion, the benzophenone monomethylsoluchrin, and β-ergosterol-5,8-endoperoxide, from the marine sponge-associated fungus Sporidesmium circinophorum KUFA 0043. The structures of the new compounds were established based on an extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectra, and, in the case of compounds 2-4, also by X-ray analysis. All of the isolated compounds were tested for their antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and multidrug-resistant isolates from the environment, as well as for their anti-quorum sensing based on the pigment production of Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 31523. None of the compounds exhibited either antibacterial (MIC > 256 µg/mL) or anti-quorum sensing activities. The compounds were also inactive in the antifungal (MIC > 512 µg/mL) and cancer cell line (GI50 > 150 µM) assays.

Crude Extracts of Marine-derived and Soil Fungi of the Genus Neosartorya Exhibit Selective Anticancer Activity by Inducing Cell Death in Colon, Breast and Skin Cancer Cell Lines

BACKGROUND

The crude ethyl acetate extracts of marine-derived fungi Neosartorya tsunodae KUFC 9213 (E1) and N. laciniosa KUFC 7896 (E2), and soil fungus N. fischeri KUFC 6344 (E3) were evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activities on a panel of seven human cancer cell lines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was performed, after 48 h treatments with different concentrations of extracts, to determine their concentration of the extract or Dox that inhibits cell viability by 50% for each cell line. The effects of the crude extracts on DNA damage, clonogenic potential and their ability to induce cell death were also assessed.

RESULTS

E1 was found to the void of anti-proliferative effects. E2 was shown to decrease the clonogenic potential in human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT116), human malignant melanoma cell line (A375), human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF7), and human caucasian colon adenocarcinoma Grade II cell line (HT29) cells, whereas E3 showed such effect only in HCT116 and MCF7 cells. Both extracts were found to increase DNA damage in some cell lines. E2 was found to induce cell death in HT29, HCT116, MCF7, and A375 cells while extract E3 increased cell death in MCF7 and HCT116 cell lines.

CONCLUSION

The results reveal that E2 and E3 possess anticancer activities in human colon carcinoma, breast adenocarcinoma, and melanoma cells, validating the interest for an identification of molecular targets involved in the anticancer activity.

SUMMARY

The crude ethyl acetate extract of N. tsunodae (E1) did not decrease cell viability in any of the tested cell linesThe crude ethyl acetate extracts of N. laciniosa (E2) and N. fischeri (E3) decreased cell proliferation in some human cancer cell lines tested at both short- and long-termN. laciniosa (E2) induced a significant increase in the number of cell death, in part, due to the induction of DNA damageN. fischeri (E3) induce cell death but in some cell lines without induction of DNA damage detected by comet assayCrude ethyl extracts of N. laciniosa (E2) and N. fischeri (E3) exert an anticancer activity in human colon carcinoma, breast adenocarcinoma, and malignant melanoma cells. Abbreviations Used: A375: Human malignant melanoma cell line; A549: Human non-small lung cancer cell line; DAPI: 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; DMEM: Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium; DMSO: Dimethylsulfoxide; Dox: Doxorubicin; E1: Neosartorya tsunodae KUFC 9213; E2: Neosartorya laciniosa KUFC 7896; E3: Neosartorya fischeri KUFC 6344; FBS: Fetal bovine serum; HCT116: Human colorectal carcinoma cell line; HEPES: (N-[2-hydroxyethyl] piperazine-N'-[2-ethane-sulfonic acid]); HepG2: Human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line; HT29: Human caucasian colon adenocarcinoma Grade II cell line; IC50: Concentration of the extract or Dox that inhibits cell viability by 50%; MCF7: Human breast adenocarcinoma cell line; MEM: Minimum Essential Medium Eagle; MTT: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; NCI-H460: Human non-small lung cancer cell line; PBS: Phosphate buffered saline; PE: Plating efficiency; RPMI: Roswell park memorial institute medium; SF: Surviving fraction; U-251: Human malignant glioblastoma cell line.

Potential of four marine-derived fungi extracts as anti-proliferative and cell death-inducing agents in seven human cancer cell lines

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the in vitro anticancer activity of crude ethyl acetate extracts of the culture of four marine-derived fungi Aspergillus similanensis KUFA 0013 (E1), Neosartorya paulistensis KUFC 7897 (E2), Neosartorya siamensis KUFA 0017 (E4) and Talaromyces trachyspermus KUFC 0021 (E3) on a panel of seven human cancer cell lines.

METHODS

Effects on cell proliferation, induction of DNA damage and cell death were assessed by MTT and clonogenic assays, comet assay and nuclear condensation assay, respectively.

RESULTS

The proliferation of HepG2, HCT116 and A375 cells decreased after incubation with the extracts E2 and E4. The anti-proliferative effect was confirmed by morphologic alterations and by clonogenic assay. Both extracts also induced cell death in HepG2 and HCT116 cells. Doxorubicin was used as a positive control and showed in vitro anticancer activity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated, for the first time, that extracts of Neosartorya paulistensis and Neosartorya siamensis have selective anti-proliferative and cell death activities in HepG2, HCT16 and A375 cells. The bioactivity of these extracts suggests a potential for biotechnological applications and substantiates that both should be further considered for the elucidation of the molecular targets and signal transduction pathways involved.

A new cyclic hexapeptide and a new isocoumarin derivative from the marine sponge-associated fungus Aspergillus similanensis KUFA 0013

A new isocoumarin derivative, similanpyrone C (1), a new cyclohexapeptide, similanamide (2), and a new pyripyropene derivative, named pyripyropene T (3) were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the culture of the marine sponge-associated fungus Aspergillus similanensis KUFA 0013. The structures of the compounds were established based on 1D and 2D NMR spectral analysis, and in the case of compound 2 the stereochemistry of its amino acid constituents was determined by chiral HPLC analysis of the hydrolysate by co-injection with the d and l amino acids standards. Compounds 2 and 3 were evaluated for their in vitro growth inhibitory activity against MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer) and A373 (melanoma) cell lines, as well as antibacterial activity against reference strains and the environmental multidrug-resistant isolates (MRS and VRE). Only compound 2 exhibited weak activity against the three cancer cell lines, and neither of them showed antibacterial activity.

Spiculisporic Acid E, a New Spiculisporic Acid Derivative and Ergosterol Derivatives from the Marine-Sponge Associated Fungus Talaromyces trachyspermus (KUFA 0021)

A new spiculisporic acid derivative, spiculisporic acid E (2), and a new natural product 3-acetyl ergosterol 5, 8-endoperoxide (1), were isolated, together with ergosta-4, 6, 8 (14), 22-tetraen-3-one, glaucanic acid and glauconic acid, from the culture of the marine-sponge associated fungus Talaromyces trachyspermus (KUFA 0021). All the compounds were inactive against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and Candida albicans, as well as multidrug-resistant isolates from the environment. Spiculisporic acid E (2), glaucanic acid and glauconic acid did not show in vitro growth inhibitory activity against the MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer) and A375-C5 (melanoma) cell lines by the protein binding dye SRB method.

Spiculisporic acid E, a new spiculisporic acid derivative and ergosterol derivatives from the marine-sponge associated fungus Talaromyces trachyspermus (KUFA 0021)

A new spiculisporic acid derivative, spiculisporic acid E (2), and a new natural product 3-acetyl ergosterol 5, 8-endoperoxide (1), were isolated, together with ergosta-4, 6, 8 (14), 22-tetraen-3-one, glaucanic acid and glauconic acid, from the culture of the marine-sponge associated fungus Talaromyces trachyspermus (KUFA 0021). All the compounds were inactive against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and Candida albicans, as well as multidrug-resistant isolates from the environment. Spiculisporic acid E (2), glaucanic acid and glauconic acid did not show in vitro growth inhibitory activity against the MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer) and A375-C5 (melanoma) cell lines by the protein binding dye SRB method.

Sartoryglabrins, analogs of ardeemins, from Neosartorya glabra

Chemical investigation of a collection of the fungus Neosartorya glabra from Thailand furnished sartoryglabins A-C (1a, 1b and 2) which are analogs of the reverse prenylated indole alkaloids known as (-) ardeemins. Structures of these compounds were established by NMR spectrometry and an X-ray analysis. Sartoryglabins A-C were evaluated for their in vitro growth inhibitory activity on three human tumor cell lines: MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer) and A375-C5 (melanoma). All the compounds exhibited strong to moderate activity against the MCF-7 cell line but weak or no activity against the NCI-H460 and A375-C5 cell lines. Sartoryglabin B was found to exhibit selectivity towards the MCF-7 cell line.

Sartoryglabrins, Analogs of Ardeemins, from Neosartorya Glabra

Chemical investigation of a collection of the fungus Neosartorya glabra from Thailand furnished sartoryglabins A-C (1a, 1b and 2) which are analogs of the reverse prenylated indole alkaloids known as (-) ardeemins. Structures of these compounds were established by NMR spectrometry and an X-ray analysis. Sartoryglabins A-C were evaluated for their in vitro growth inhibitory activity on three human tumor cell lines: MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer) and A375-C5 (melanoma). All the compounds exhibited strong to moderate activity against the MCF-7 cell line but weak or no activity against the NCI-H460 and A375-C5 cell lines. Sartoryglabin B was found to exhibit selectivity towards the MCF-7 cell line.

Merodrimanes and other constituents from Talaromyces thailandiasis

Chemical study of a previously undescribed fungus, Talaromyces thailandiasis, furnished the two new merodrimanes thailandolides A (1) and B (2), an O-methylated derivative (3) of the aromatic fragment incorporated in thailandolide B, and three known closely related 1(3H)-isobenzofuran derivatives, penisimplicissin (4a), vermistatin (4b), and hydroxydihydrovermistatin (4c). Structures were established by spectroscopic measurements and confirmed by X-ray analyses of compounds 1 and 4b. The unusual peptide analogue N-benzoylphenylalanyl-N-benzoylphenyl alaninate (5) isolated earlier from a higher plant was also found.

Bacillisporins D and E, new oxyphenalenone dimers from Talaromyces bacillisporus

The oligophenalenone dimer duclauxin and two new analogues, bacillisporins D and E, were isolated from the fungus TALAROMYCES BACILLISPORUS in addition to the previously reported bacillisporins A, B and C. Structures were established by spectroscopic studies. Duclauxin and bacillisporins A, B, C and E were evaluated for cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines. Bacillisporin A was strongly active against MCF-7 and NCI-H460 and moderately active against SF-268 while bacillisporins B, C and duclauxin were moderately active against all three cell lines.