Stelliosphaerols A and B, Sesquiterpene-Polyol Conjugates from an Ecuadorian Fungal Endophyte

J Nat Prod. 2015 Dec 24;78(12):3005-10. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00749. Epub 2015 Dec 14.

Abstract

Endophytic fungi are plant tissue-associated fungi that represent a rich resource of unexplored biological and chemical diversity. As part of an ongoing effort to characterize Amazon rainforest-derived endophytes, numerous fungi were isolated and cultured from plants collected in the Yasuní National Park in Ecuador. Of these samples, phylogenetic and morphological data revealed a previously undescribed fungus in the order Pleosporales that was cultured from the tropical tree Duroia hirsuta. Extracts from this fungal isolate displayed activity against Staphylococcus aureus and were thus subjected to detailed chemical studies. Two compounds with modest antibacterial activity were isolated, and their structures were elucidated using a combination of NMR spectroscopic analysis, LC-MS studies, and chemical degradation. These efforts led to the identification of stelliosphaerols A (1) and B (2), new sesquiterpene-polyol conjugates that are responsible, at least in part, for the S. aureus inhibitory activity of the fungal extract.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Ecuador
  • Endophytes
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Polymers
  • Sesquiterpenes / chemistry
  • Sesquiterpenes / isolation & purification*
  • Sesquiterpenes / pharmacology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Polymers
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • polyol
  • stelliosphaerol A
  • stelliosphaerol B