Bioactive Secondary Metabolites from Fungi of the Genus Ehrenb. (Ascomycota).

is a genus of fungi belonging to the Cytosporaceae family (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota) considered as a prolific source of specialized metabolites due to their ability to produce diverse secondary metabolites with a broad range of biological activities. Since the first chemical investigation of this genus in the 1980s, further studies have led to the isolation and structural elucidation of several bioactive compounds including cytosporones, nonanolides, macrocyclic dilactones, and terpenoids. This review summarizes, for the first time, the chemical diversity of bioactive secondary metabolites from the genus and highlights its potential as an alternative source of secondary metabolites for pharmacological studies.

Combination and improvement of conventional DNA extraction methods in Actinobacteria to obtain high-quantity and high-quality DNA.

Background And Objectives: DNA extraction is an important step of any molecular experiment. DNA could not be easily extracted from members of actinomycetes by the usual methods of lysis. Due to the low efficiency of the conventional DNA extraction methods, development of an effective technique for DNA extraction of actinobacteria in emergency cases seems to be necessary.

Five Tetramic Acid Derivatives Isolated from the Iranian Fungus CCTU A372.

Submerged mycelial cultures of the ascomycete   CCTU A372 were found to produce five previously undescribed tetramic acids, for which we propose the trivial names colposetins A-C (-) and colpomenoic acids A and B ( and ), along with the known compounds penicillide () and monodictyphenone (). The planar structures of - were determined by high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESIMS) and extensive 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Their absolute configurations were determined by the combination of electronic circular dischroism (ECD) analysis, -based configurational analysis, and a rotating-frame Overhauser effect spectroscopy (ROESY) experiment.

Simplicilones A and B Isolated from the Endophytic Fungus SPC3.

Two new tetracyclic polyketides with a spirocenter, simplicilones A () and B () were isolated from the broth-culture of the endophytic fungus (SPC3) in the course of our screening for new bioactive secondary metabolites. This endophytoic fungus is naturally harboured in the fresh bark of the Cameroonian medicinal plant (Engl. and Diels) Chatrou.

Cytotoxic, anti-biofilm and antimicrobial polyketides from the plant associated fungus Chaetosphaeronema achilleae.

From extracts of the plant associated fungus Chaetosphaeronema achilleae collected in Iran, a previously unreported isoindolinone named chaetosisoindolinone (1) and a previously undescribed indanone named chaetosindanone (2) were isolated in addition to five known metabolites, 2-(2-acetyl-3,5-dihydroxyphenyl) acetic acid (3), vulculic acid (4), 2-(2-acetyl-3-hydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)acetic acid (5), curvulin (6), and curvulol (7). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The isolated compounds were tested for their antimicrobial, anti-biofilm, and nematicidal activities.

Cytotoxic, antimicrobial and antiviral secondary metabolites produced by the plant pathogenic fungus Cytospora sp. CCTU A309.

Chemical analysis of extracts from cultures of the plant pathogenic fungus Cytospora sp. strain CCTU A309 collected in Iran led to the isolation of two previously unreported heptanedioic acid derivatives namely (2R,3S) 2-hydroxy-3-phenyl-4-oxoheptanedioic acid (1) and (2S,3S) 2-hydroxy-3-phenyl-4-oxoheptanedioic acid (2) as diastereomers, four previously undescribed prenylated p-terphenyl quinones 3-6 in addition to five known metabolites. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and high-resolution mass spectrometry.