New Trichothecenes Isolated from the Marine Algicolous Fungus Trichoderma brevicompactum.

Eight trichothecenes, including four new compounds 1-4 and four known entities 5-8, together with one known cyclonerane (9) were isolated from the solid-state fermentation of Trichoderma brevicompactum NTU439 isolated from the marine alga Mastophora rosea. The structures of 1-9 were determined by 1D/2D NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), MS (mass spectrometry), and IR (infrared spectroscopy) spectroscopic data. All of the compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against HCT-116, PC-3, and SK-Hep-1 cancer cells by the SRB assay, and compound 8 showed promising cytotoxic activity against all three cancer cell lines with the IC50 values of 3.3 ± 0.3, 5.3 ± 0.3, and 1.8 ± 0.8 µM, respectively. Compounds 1-2, 4-6, and 7-8 potently inhibited LPS-induced NO production, and compounds 5 and 8 showed markedly inhibited gelatinolysis of MMP-9 in S1 protein-stimulated THP-1 monocytes.

Protective Evaluation of Compounds Extracted from Root of Rhodiola rosea L. against Methylglyoxal-Induced Toxicity in a Neuronal Cell Line.

Rhodiola rosea L. (R. rosea) is one of the most beneficial medicinal plants and it is studied as an adaptogen. This study aims to evaluate the neuroprotective activity of compounds extracted from the root of R. rosea against methylglyoxal (MG)-induced apoptosis in neuro-2A (N2A) cells. The root of R. rosea was extracted with ethanol and partitioned with water, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol fractions to evaluate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity and neuroprotective activity. The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the highest values of AChE inhibitory activity (49.2% ± 3%) and cell viability (50.7% ± 4.8%) for neuroprotection. The structure identification of the most potential fraction (ethyl acetate fraction) revealed 15 compounds, consisting of three tannins, five flavonoids, and seven phenolics by infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectroscopy. All compounds were evaluated for their neuroprotective activity. Salidroside had the most potential neuroprotective activity. Gallic acid and methyl gallate had potential cytotoxicity in N2A cells. This study showed that R. rosea might have potential neuroprotective activities.

Bioactive compounds from an endophytic fungi Nigrospora aurantiaca.

BACKGROUND: Many groups of fungi live as an endophyte in plants. Both published and undiscovered bioactive compounds can be found in endophytic fungi. Various biological activities of bioactive compounds from endophytic fungi had been reported, including anti-inflammatory and anticancerous effects. The chemical investigation of biologically active compounds from endophytic fungi Melaleuca leucadendra Linn. have not yet been stated. RESULTS: One new compound, namely nigaurdiol (1), along with five known compounds, xyloketal K (2), bostrycin (3), deoxybostrycin (4), xylanthraquinone (5), and ergosterol (6), were isolated from the Melaleuca leucadendra Linn. associated fungal strain Nigrospora aurantiaca #TMU062. Their chemical structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data and compared with literature. All isolated compounds were evaluated for inhibitory effect of NO production in LPS-activated microglial BV-2 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Compound 6 exhibited considerable inhibitory effect on NO production with IC50 values of 7.2 ± 1.4 µM and the survival rate of the cells was 90.8 ± 6.7% at the concentration of 10 µM.