Fungal Depsidones Stimulate AKT-Dependent Glucose Uptake in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

Enhanced glucose uptake in insulin-sensitive tissues is one of the therapeutic strategies to ameliorate hyperglycemia and maintain glucose homeostasis in type 2 diabetes. This study disclosed the role of fungal depsidones in glucose uptake and the underlying mechanism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Depsidones, including nidulin, nornidulin, and unguinol, isolated from Aspergillus unguis, stimulate glucose uptake in adipocytes. Compared to the others, nidulin exhibited an upward trend in glucose uptake. The effect of nidulin was found to be dose- and time-dependent. Nidulin also enhanced insulin- and metformin-stimulated glucose uptake. Upregulation of GLUT4 expression and AKT and AMPK phosphorylation were observed with nidulin treatment. Blockage of AKT, but not AMPK, phosphorylation was largely accompanied by diminished glucose uptake. In agreement, nidulin triggered the translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane. Importantly, nidulin elevated glucose uptake associated with increased AKT phosphorylation in insulin-resistant adipocytes. Taken together, nidulin could stimulate glucose uptake mainly through AKT-dependent GLUT4 translocation, serving as a seed compound in drug discovery for type 2 diabetes.

Pyridylnidulin exerts anti-diabetic properties and improves non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in diet-induced obesity mice.

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the metabolic disorders related to the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therapeutic strategies are focused on the improvement of energy balance and lifestyle modification. Additionally, the derivative of the bioactive fungal metabolite is of interest to provide health benefits, especially in obese and pre-diabetic conditions. In our screening of anti-diabetic compounds from fungal metabolites and semisynthetic derivatives, a depsidone derivative, namely pyridylnidulin (PN), showed potent glucose uptake-inducing activity. The present study aimed to investigate the liver lipid metabolism and anti-diabetic properties of PN in diet-induced obesity mice. Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were induced obesity and pre-diabetic conditions by dietary intervention with a high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks. These obese mice were orally administered with PN (40 or 120 mg/kg), metformin (150 mg/kg), or vehicle for 4 weeks. Glucose tolerance, plasma adipocytokines, hepatic gene and protein expressions were assessed after treatment. Results: Improved glucose tolerance and reduced fasting blood glucose levels were found in the PN and metformin-treated mice. Additionally, hepatic triglyceride levels were consistent with the histopathological steatosis score regarding hepatocellular hypertrophy in the PN and metformin groups. The levels of plasma adipocytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were reduced in the PN (120 mg/kg) and metformin-treated mice. In addition, hepatic gene expression involved in lipid metabolism, including lipogenic enzymes was significantly reduced in the PN (120 mg/kg) and metformin-treated mice. The increased protein expression levels of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) was also found in PN and metformin-treated mice. Discussion: Considering the increased p-AMPK protein expression levels in PN and metformin-treated mice were revealed as the underlying mechanisms to improve metabolic parameters. These results suggested that PN provided the health benefit to slow the progression of NAFLD and T2DM in obese and pre-diabetic conditions.

Lanostane triterpenoids from artificially cultivated fruiting bodies of Ganoderma cf. mastoporum.

In the quest for bioactive compounds from Ganoderma, artificially cultivated fruiting bodies of Ganoderma cf. mastoporum, strain TBRC-BCC 47851 were chemically investigated. The study led to the isolation of three undescribed lanostane triterpenoids (1-3) together with twelve known compounds. The structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometry data. The new compounds were inactive in the antimalarial and antitubercular activity assays.

Lanostane triterpenoids from cultivated fruiting bodies of basidiomycete Ganoderma mbrekobenum.

In the quest for medicinally active compounds in mushrooms of the genus Ganoderma, eleven undescribed lanostane triterpenoids, including a novel chlorinated derivative, i.e., (20S,24E)-21-chloro-15ß,20,29-trihydroxy-3,7,11-trioxolanosta-8,24-dien-26-oic acid, were isolated from artificially cultivated fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Ganoderma mbrekobenum. The structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometry data. The configuration of the C-20 atom in the most abundant 20-hydroxy-lanostane, (20S,24E)-15ß,20,29-trihydroxy-3,7,11-trioxolanosta-8,24-dien-26-oic acid, was established by chemical derivatization, and the absolute configuration of the lanostane skeleton was determined by ECD calculation. Two of the undescribed compounds exhibited moderate antimalarial activity.

Acetylenic sesquiterpenoids from cultures of the basidiomycete Stereum cf. hirsutum BCC 26597.

A new acetylenic sesquiterpenoid, stereyne A (1), and its acetonide derivative, stereyne B (2), were isolated from cultures of the basidiomycete Stereum cf. hirsutum BCC 26597. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and a chemical correlation. Their absolute configurations were determined by application of the modified Mosher's method. They represent new structural type of sesquiterpenoids from Stereum.

Semisynthesis and antibacterial activities of nidulin derivatives.

Derivatives of the fungal depsidone, nidulin, have been synthesized in order to evaluate the potential of the chemical skeleton as antibacterial agents. Alkylation, acylation, and arylation reactions of nornidulin underwent in a regioselective manner to predominantly produce 8-O-substituted derivatives. Many of the semisynthetic derivatives showed more potent antibacterial activities than nidulin, In particular, 8-O-aryl ether derivatives displayed significant activities against Gram-positive bacteria, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Cordybislactone, a stereoisomer of the 14-membered bislactone clonostachydiol, from the hopper pathogenic fungus Cordyceps sp. BCC 49294: revision of the absolute configuration of clonostachydiol.

Cordybislactone (3), a new stereoisomer of the 14-membered bislactone clonostachydiol, together with its open ring analog (4), was isolated from the hopper pathogenic fungus Cordyceps sp. BCC 49294. The relative and absolute configurations of 3 were determined by chemical derivatizations, including the modified Mosher's method. The stereochemistry of clonostachydiol was determined using the natural compound isolated from Xylaria sp. BCC 4297. The result revealed that the absolute configuration of clonostachydiol, previously determined by synthesis, should be revised to its enantiomer.

Aromadendrane and cyclofarnesane sesquiterpenoids from cultures of the basidiomycete Inonotus sp. BCC 23706.

Twelve aromadendrane sesquiterpenoids, inonotins A-L, and a previously unknown cyclofarnesane, i.e., inonofarnesane, together with two known compounds, were isolated from cultures of the wood-rotting basidiomycete Inonotus sp. BCC 23706. Inonotin I is identical to a previously reported compound with an incorrect structure. Structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and X-ray crystallography. The absolute configurations of inonotin D and inonofarnesane were determined by application of the modified Mosher's method.

Ascochlorin derivatives from the leafhopper pathogenic fungus Microcera sp. BCC 17074.

Two new ascochlorin derivatives, nectchlorins A (1) and B (2), together with eight known compounds (3-10), were isolated from cultures of the leafhopper pathogen Microcera sp. BCC 17074. The structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometry data. The absolute configuration of 2 was determined by application of the modified Mosher's method. The absolute configuration of LL-Z 1272α epoxide (9), which is a plausible biosynthetic precursor of ascochlorins, was established by chemical correlations. Cytotoxic activities of these ascochlorin derivatives were evaluated.

Ring B aromatic norpimarane glucoside from a Xylaria sp.

A novel 20-norpimarane glucoside, xylopimarane (1), together with the known sphaeropsidin C (2) and clonostachydiol (3), was isolated from the fungus Xylaria sp. BCC 4297. Compound 1 exhibited cytotoxicity to cancer cell lines KB, MCF-7, and NCI-H187 with respective IC(50) values of 1.0, 13, and 65 µM.

Hopane-type triterpenes and binaphthopyrones from the scale insect pathogenic fungus Aschersonia paraphysata BCC 11964.

Two new triterpenes, 17(21)-hopene-6alpha,12beta-diol (1) and 17(21)-hopen-12beta-ol (2), the known 17(21)-hopen-6alpha-ol (zeorinin, 3), and two new biarylic dihydronaphthopyrones, aschernaphthopyrones A (4) and B (5), were isolated from the scale insect pathogenic fungus Aschersonia paraphysata BCC 11964. Hopene 1 and aschernaphthopyrone A (4) exhibited antimalarial activity with IC(50) values of 15 and 7.3 microM, respectively.