Ophiobolin E and 8-epi-ophiobolin J produced by Drechslera gigantea, a potential mycoherbicide of weedy grasses

Phytochemistry. 2006 Oct;67(20):2281-7. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2006.07.016. Epub 2006 Sep 7.

Abstract

Drechslera gigantea, a fungal pathogen isolated from large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) and proposed as a potential mycoherbicide of grass weeds, produces phytotoxic metabolites in liquid and solid cultures. Ophiobolin A and three minor ophiobolins i.e., 6-epi-ophiobolin A, 3-anhydro-6-epi-ophiobolin A and ophiobolin I were obtained from the liquid culture broths. Interestingly and unexpectedly, ophiobolins also appeared in cultures of this fungus and they were isolated together with the known ophiobolins B and J, and designed as ophiobolin E and 8-epi-ophiobolin J. They were characterized using essentially spectroscopic methods. It is noteworthy that D. gigantea produces such a plethora of bioactive organic substances. Some structure-activity relationship results are also discussed in this report.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ascomycota / chemistry*
  • Ascomycota / metabolism
  • Bromus / drug effects*
  • Herbicides / chemistry*
  • Herbicides / isolation & purification
  • Herbicides / pharmacology
  • Hordeum / drug effects*
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Sesterterpenes
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Terpenes / chemistry*
  • Terpenes / isolation & purification
  • Terpenes / pharmacology

Substances

  • Herbicides
  • Plant Extracts
  • Sesterterpenes
  • Terpenes
  • ophiobolin E
  • ophiobolin J