New cytotoxic polyacetylene amides from the Egyptian marine sponge Siphonochalina siphonella.

Four new polyacetylene amides, siphonellamides A-D (1-4), and one new fatty amide, siphonellamide E (5), together with a known indole fatty amide (6) and callyspongamide A (7), were isolated from the Red Sea marine sponge Siphonochalina siphonella. The structures of 1-5 were elucidated by extensive analyses of their 1D- and 2D-NMR spectra and MS. The isolated compounds were assessed for their cytotoxicity against HeLa, MCF-7, and A549 cancer cell lines. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited cytotoxic activities with IC50 values ranging from 9.4 to 34.1 µM, while 5 was only cytotoxic to HeLa cells, with an IC50 value of 78.4 µM. Compound 7 showed moderate cytotoxicity against all tested cell lines.

Bioactive anthraquinones from endophytic fungus Aspergillus versicolor isolated from red sea algae.

The marine fungus Aspergillus versicolor was isolated from the inner tissue of the Red Sea green alga Halimeda opuntia. The fungus was identified by its morphology and 18s rDNA. Cultivation of this fungal strain led to a new metabolite named isorhodoptilometrin-1-methyl ether (1) along with the known compounds emodin (2), 1-methyl emodin (3), evariquinone (4), 7-hydroxyemodin 6,8-methyl ether (5), siderin (6), arugosin C (7), and variculanol (8). The structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopic analysis and mass spectrometry. The biological properties of ethyl acetate extract and compounds 1-3 and 6-8 were explored for antimicrobial activity, anti-cancer activity and inhibition of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease.

Monodictyquinone A: a new antimicrobial anthraquinone from a sea urchin-derived fungus Monodictys sp.

A new antimicrobial anthraquinone, 1,8-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-6-methylanthraquinone, monodictyquinone A (1), was isolated from a culture of a marine-derived fungus of the genus Monodictys which was isolated from the sea urchin, Anthocidaris crassispina, along with three known compounds, pachybasin (2), chrysophanol (3), and emodin (4).

(3R,4aR,5S,6R)-6-Hydroxy-5-methylramulosin: a new ramulosin derivative from a marine-derived sterile mycelium.

(3R,4aR,5S,6R)-6-Hydroxy-5-methylramulosin (1) was isolated from a culture of a sterile mycelium, which was derived from the green alga, Codium fragile, along with (-)-5-methylmellein (2), (-)-5-hydroxymethylmellein (3), and (-)-(3R,4R)-cis-4-hydroxy-5-methylmellein (4). The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by the NMR data along with the lactone sector rule by circular dichroism (CD). Compound 1 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells.

CYP3A4 inhibitors isolated from Licorice.

The extract of licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis FISHER, Leguminosae) showed CYP3A4 inhibitory activity with the IC50 value of 0.022 mg/ml. Bioassay-guided purification afforded nine compounds, 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid (1), isoliquiritigenin (2), (3R)-vestitol (3), licopyranocoumarin (4), 4-hydroxyguaiacol apioglucoside (5), liquiritin (6), liquiritigenin 7,4'-diglucoside (7), liquiritin apioside (8), and glucoliquiritin apioside (9). Among these compounds, 3, 7, and 5 showed potent CYP3A4 inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 3.6, 17, and 20 microM, respectively. Glycyrrhizin (10), a main constituent of licorice, however, was inactive for CYP3A4 inhibition.

Mycotoxin production in wheat grains by different Aspergilli in relation to different relative humidities and storage periods.

Four different Aspergilli (Aspergillus oryzae, A. parasiticus, A. terreus and A. versicolor) were grown on wheat grains underdifferent degrees of relative humidity 14, 50, 74, 80 and 90%. Samples of wheat grains were taken monthly for a period of six months and examined for mycotoxin production. A. oryzae was found to produce aflatoxins B1, B2, zearalenone, DON and T-2 toxins under elevated degrees of humidity and prolonged periods of storage. A. parasiticus produced aflatoxins B1, G1, NIV, DON and T-2 toxins in high concentrations during a period of not more than three months storage at 14% relative humidity; at an increased level of relative humidity of 74% ochratoxin A, zearalenone and sterigmatocystin were also produced at high levels. The isolate was drastic in toxin production. A. terrus produced toxins at 14% relative humidity (aflatoxin G2 and DON) at levels much higher than any other prevalent degrees of humidity. A. versicolor is highly sensitive to relative humidity and grain moisture content It produced aflatoxins B1, G1, NIV and DON at a relative humidity of 50% and another toxins (aflatoxin G2, ochratoxins A, B and zearalenone) at 74%. The microorganism can be considered a trichothecene producer under suitable relative humidity.