Cytotoxic and other metabolites of Aspergillus inhabiting the rhizosphere of Sonoran desert plants

J Nat Prod. 2004 Dec;67(12):1985-91. doi: 10.1021/np040139d.

Abstract

In a study to discover potential anticancer agents from rhizosphere fungi of Sonoran desert plants cytotoxic EtOAc extracts of four Aspergillus strains have been investigated. Two new metabolites, terrequinone A (1) and terrefuranone (2), along with Na-acetyl aszonalemin (LL-S490beta) (3) were isolated from As. terreus occurring in the rhizosphere of Ambrosia ambrosoides, whereas As. terreus inhabiting the rhizosphere of an unidentified Brickellia sp. afforded dehydrocurvularin (4), 11-methoxycurvularin (5), and 11-hydroxycurvularin (6). As. cervinus isolated from the rhizosphere of Anicasanthus thurberi contained two new compounds, 4R*,5S*-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methylcyclohex-2-enone (7) and 6-methoxy-5(6)-dihydropenicillic acid (8), in addition to penicillic acid (9). Penicillic acid was also isolated from As. wentii occurring in the rhizosphere of Larrea tridentata. The structures of 1-9 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and chemical derivatizations. Acetylation of 2 afforded 14-acetylterrefuranone (13) and 14-deoxy-13(14)-dehydroterrefuranone (14). Metabolites 1-9, the dienone 14, and 5(6)-dihydropenicillic acid (16) were evaluated for cytotoxicity in a panel of four human cancer cell lines and in normal human primary fibroblast cells. Compounds 4 and 5 displayed considerable cytotoxicity, whereas 1, 6, 9, and 14 were found to be moderately active, with 6 and 9 exhibiting selective cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines compared with the normal fibroblast cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Arizona
  • Aspergillus / chemistry*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Desert Climate
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Furans / chemistry
  • Furans / isolation & purification*
  • Furans / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Indoles / chemistry
  • Indoles / isolation & purification*
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Penicillic Acid / chemistry
  • Penicillic Acid / isolation & purification
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Furans
  • Indoles
  • terrefuranone
  • terrequinone A
  • Penicillic Acid