Cytotoxic alkylated hydroquinone, phenol, and cyclohexenone derivatives from Aspergillus violaceofuscus Gasperini

J Nat Prod. 2014 May 23;77(5):1236-40. doi: 10.1021/np401017g. Epub 2014 May 1.

Abstract

New alkylated hydroquinones violaceoid A (1), violaceoid B (2), and violaceoid C (3), an alkylated phenol violaceoid D (4), and a cyclohexenoid violaceoid E (5) were isolated from a culture broth of Aspergillus violaceofuscus Gasperini isolated from moss. The structures were identified by interpretation of spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, MS, and IR). Two known compounds, the cyclohexenoid 6 and eupenoxide (7), were also isolated. Compound 6 was isolated for the first time as a natural product and named violaceoid F. Isolated compounds were tested for cytotoxic activity against five human cancer cell lines and a mouse macrophage cell line. Violaceoid A was the most potent of the seven compounds against all cell lines. Violaceoid C and D exhibited cytotoxicity against the leukemia cell lines with LD50 values 5.9-8.3 μM, while violaceoid F was found to be cytotoxic against HCT116 and RAW264.7 with LD50 values of 6.4 and 6.5 μM, respectively. These results demonstrate that violaceoid derivatives are a new class of cytotoxic hydroquinones with a hydroxymethyl and a linear alkyl substituent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkylation
  • Animals
  • Aspergillus / chemistry*
  • Cyclohexanones / chemistry
  • Cyclohexanones / isolation & purification*
  • Cyclohexanones / pharmacology
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydroquinones / chemistry
  • Hydroquinones / isolation & purification*
  • Hydroquinones / pharmacology
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Phenols / chemistry
  • Phenols / isolation & purification*
  • Phenols / pharmacology

Substances

  • Cyclohexanones
  • Hydroquinones
  • Phenols