Triterpenoids from Ganoderma gibbosum: A Class of Sensitizers of FLC-Resistant Candida albicans to Fluconazole

J Nat Prod. 2019 Aug 23;82(8):2067-2077. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00148. Epub 2019 Jul 16.

Abstract

Fungal drug resistance is a major health threat, and reports of clinical resistance worldwide are becoming increasingly common. In a research program to discover new molecules to help overcome this problem, 14 new lanostane-type triterpenoids, gibbosicolids A-G (2-8) and gibbosic acids I-O (9-15), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma gibbosum, along with seven known triterpenoid derivatives. These compounds featured high levels of oxidation, epimerization, and γ-lactonization. Structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses and HRMS data. Absolute configurations were assigned based on quantum chemical calculations, including calculated chemical shift with DP4+ analysis, coupling constants, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) methods. Results show that the calculated NMR with DP4+ analysis could not reliably establish the overall spatial configuration of molecules possessing independent and free-rotational stereoclusters. All these compounds significantly increased the sensitivity of fluconazole (FLC)-resistant C. albicans to FLC. Compounds 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 17, and 21 exhibited strong antifungal activity against FLC-resistant C. albicans when combined with FLC, with MIC50 values ranging from 3.8 to 8.8 μg/mL.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Candida albicans / drug effects*
  • Drug Resistance, Fungal / drug effects*
  • Fluconazole / pharmacology*
  • Ganoderma / chemistry*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Structure
  • Spectrum Analysis / methods
  • Triterpenes / chemistry
  • Triterpenes / isolation & purification
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Triterpenes
  • Fluconazole