Synthesis and Antifungal Activity Evaluation of Phloeodictine Analogues.

The phloeodictine-based 6-hydroxy-2,3,4,6-tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-]pyrimidinium structural moiety with an -tetradecyl side chain at C-6 has been demonstrated to be a new antifungal template. Thirty-four new synthetic analogues with modifications of the bicyclic tetrahydropyrrolopyrimidinium skeleton and the N-1 side chain have been prepared and evaluated for in vitro antifungal activities against the clinically important fungal pathogens including ATCC 90113, ATCC 90028, ATCC 90030, ATCC 6258, and ATCC 90906. Nineteen compounds (, -, -, , and ) showed antifungal activities against the aforementioned five fungal pathogens with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in the range 0.

Puupehenone, a Marine-Sponge-Derived Sesquiterpene Quinone, Potentiates the Antifungal Drug Caspofungin by Disrupting Hsp90 Activity and the Cell Wall Integrity Pathway.

The cell wall-targeting echinocandin antifungals, although potent and well tolerated, are inadequate in treating fungal infections due to their narrow spectrum of activity and their propensity to induce pathogen resistance. A promising strategy to overcome these drawbacks is to combine echinocandins with a molecule that improves their activity and also disrupts drug adaptation pathways. In this study, we show that puupehenone (PUUP), a marine-sponge-derived sesquiterpene quinone, potentiates the echinocandin drug caspofungin (CAS) in CAS-resistant fungal pathogens.

Tribute to the Late Dr. Charles D. Hufford.

This Special Issue is dedicated to the late Dr. Charles (Charlie) D. Hufford, former Professor of Pharmacognosy and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Mississippi [.

Two plant-derived aporphinoid alkaloids exert their antifungal activity by disrupting mitochondrial iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis.

Eupolauridine and liriodenine are plant-derived aporphinoid alkaloids that exhibit potent inhibitory activity against the opportunistic fungal pathogens and However, the molecular mechanism of this antifungal activity is unknown. In this study, we show that eupolauridine 9591 (E9591), a synthetic analog of eupolauridine, and liriodenine methiodide (LMT), a methiodide salt of liriodenine, mediate their antifungal activities by disrupting mitochondrial iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster synthesis. Several lines of evidence supported this conclusion.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of alkyl and benzyl naphthyridinium analogs of eupolauridine as potential antimicrobial and cytotoxic agents.

Eupolauridine, an indenonaphthyridine alkaloid, has been previously reported by us to exhibit antifungal activity. This study describes the synthesis of new alkyl and benzyl naphthyridinium/pyridinium analogs of eupolauridine as potential antifungal agents. A majority of the analogs exhibited antifungal activity against opportunistic pathogens such as Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans.

LC-MS- and (1)H NMR Spectroscopy-Guided Identification of Antifungal Diterpenoids from Sagittaria latifolia.

Antifungal screening of small-molecule natural product libraries showed that a column fraction (CF) derived from the plant extract of Sagittaria latifolia was active against the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Dereplication analysis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H NMR) indicated the presence of new compounds in this CF. Subsequent fractionation of the plant extract resulted in the identification of two new isopimaradiene-type diterpenoids, 1 and 2.

Synthesis and antifungal activities of miltefosine analogs.

Miltefosine is an alkylphosphocholine that shows broad-spectrum in vitro antifungal activities and limited in vivo efficacy in mouse models of cryptococcosis. To further explore the potential of this class of compounds for the treatment of systemic mycoses, nine analogs (3a-3i) were synthesized by modifying the choline structural moiety and the alkyl chain length of miltefosine. In vitro testing of these compounds against the opportunistic fungal pathogens Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Cryptococcus neoformans revealed that N-benzyl-N,N-dimethyl-2-{[(hexadecyloxy)hydroxyphosphinyl]oxy}ethanaminium inner salt (3a), N,N-dimethyl-N-(4-nitrobenzyl)-2-{[(hexadecyloxy)hydroxyphosphinyl]oxy}ethanaminium inner salt (3d), and N-(4-methoxybenzyl)-N,N-dimethyl-2-{[(hexadecyloxy)hydroxyphosphinyl]oxy}ethanaminium inner salt (3e) exhibited minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 2.

Antifungal cyclic peptides from the marine sponge .

Screening natural product extracts from the National Cancer Institute Open Repository for antifungal discovery afforded hits for bioassay-guided fractionation. Using LC-MS analysis to generate chemical structure information on potentially active compounds, two new cyclic hexapeptides, microsclerodermins J () and K (), were isolated from the deep-water sponge , along with microsclerodermins A () and B (), previously isolated from an unidentified species. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods.

Exploring the molecular basis of antifungal synergies using genome-wide approaches.

Drug resistance poses a significant challenge in antifungal therapy since resistance has been found for all known classes of antifungal drugs. The discovery of compounds that can act synergistically with antifungal drugs is an important strategy to overcome resistance. For such combination therapies to be effective, it is critical to understand the molecular basis for the synergism by examining the cellular effects exerted by the combined drugs.

A potent plant-derived antifungal acetylenic acid mediates its activity by interfering with fatty acid homeostasis.

6-Nonadecynoic acid (6-NDA), a plant-derived acetylenic acid, exhibits strong inhibitory activity against the human fungal pathogens Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. In the present study, transcriptional profiling coupled with mutant and biochemical analyses were conducted using the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to investigate its mechanism of action. 6-NDA elicited a transcriptome response indicative of fatty acid stress, altering the expression of genes that are required for yeast growth in the presence of oleate.

Sampangine inhibits heme biosynthesis in both yeast and human.

The azaoxoaporphine alkaloid sampangine exhibits strong antiproliferation activity in various organisms. Previous studies suggested that it somehow affects heme metabolism and stimulates production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we show that inhibition of heme biosynthesis is the primary mechanism of action by sampangine and that increases in the levels of reactive oxygen species are secondary to heme deficiency.

Synthesis and antifungal activity of natural product-based 6-alkyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridines.

Seven 6-alkyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridines (5a-5g) that mimic the natural piperideines that were recently identified in fire ant venom have been synthesized. Compounds 5c-5g with C-6 alkyl chain lengths from C14 to C18 showed varying degrees of antifungal activities, with 5e (6-hexadecyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridine) and 5f (6-heptadecyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridine) being the most active. Compound 5e exhibited minimum fungicidal concentrations of 3.

Natural Product Based 6-Hydroxy-2,3,4,6-tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidinium Scaffold as A New Antifungal Template.

Synthetic analogues of the marine-derived class of natural products phloeodictines have been prepared and exhibited potent in vitro fungicidal activities against a broad array of fungal pathogens including drug resistant strains. The 6-hydroxy-2,3,4,6-tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidinium structural moiety with a C12 to C16 aliphatic side chain at C-6 has been shown to be the antifungal pharmacophore and may serve as a new antifungal template for further lead optimization.

The marine sponge-derived polyketide endoperoxide plakortide F acid mediates its antifungal activity by interfering with calcium homeostasis.

Plakortide F acid (PFA), a marine-derived polyketide endoperoxide, exhibits strong inhibitory activity against the opportunistic fungal pathogens Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus. In the present study, transcriptional profiling coupled with mutant and biochemical analyses were conducted using the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae to investigate the mechanism of action of this compound. PFA elicited a transcriptome response indicative of a Ca(2+) imbalance, affecting the expression of genes known to be responsive to altered cellular calcium levels.

ent-Kaurane glycosides from Tricalysia okelensis.

Tricalysiosides V and W, two new ent-kaurane glycosides with an acylated disaccharide moiety at the C-3 position, were isolated from the roots of Tricalysia okelensis and their structures established by spectroscopic and chemical methods as ent-kauran-3alpha,16alpha,17-triol-19-al 3-O-[5-O-vanilloyl-beta-D-apiopyranosyl(1-->6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and ent-kauran-3alpha,16alpha,17-triol-19-al 3-O-[5-O-E-sinapoyl-beta-D-apiopyranosyl(1-->6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2).

Puupehanol, a sesquiterpene-dihydroquinone derivative from the marine sponge Hyrtios sp.

Puupehanol (1), a new sesquiterpene-dihydroquinone derivative, was isolated from the marine sponge Hyrtios sp., along with the known compounds puupehenone (2) and chloropuupehenone (3) that are responsible for the antifungal activity observed in the extract. The structure of 1 was established as (20R,21R)-21-hydroxy-20,21-dihydropuupehenone by extensive spectroscopic and computational methods.

Reversal of fluconazole resistance by sulfated sterols from the marine sponge Topsentia sp.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the extract of Topsentia sp. led to the identification of two new sulfated sterols, geodisterol-3-O-sulfite (1) and 29-demethylgeodisterol-3-O-sulfite (2), the active constituents reversing efflux pump-mediated fluconazole resistance. Both compounds enhanced the activity of fluconazole in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain overexpressing the Candida albicans efflux pump MDR1, as well as in a fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans clinical isolate known to overexpress MDR1.

FLAVONOL GLYCOSIDES FROM THE NATIVE AMERICAN PLANT .

Phytochemical investigation of the native American plant led to the isolation of three new and eight known flavonol glycosides. The structures of the new compounds were established primarily by spectroscopic data as quercetin 3--(2″--α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-6″----coumaroyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (), kaempferol 3--(2″--α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-6″----coumaroyl)-β-d-gluco-pyranoside () and quercetin 3--(2″--α--rhamnopyranosyl-6″----coumaroyl)-β-D-glucopyrano-side ().

Verbesinosides A-F, 15,27-cyclooleanane saponins from the American native plant Verbesina virginica.

Verbesinosides A-F (1-6), six new 15,27-cyclooleanane-type triterpenoid saponins carrying different aromatic acyl moieties on the aglycon, were isolated from the leaves and flowers of Verbesina virginica. Their structures were established by interpretation of spectroscopic data and chemical methods. The representative major saponin, verbesinoside A (1), has the structure 21-trimethoxybenzoyl 15alpha,27-cycloolean-12-en-3beta,21beta-diol-28-oic acid 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1-->4)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside.

Potent in vitro antifungal activities of naturally occurring acetylenic acids.

Our continuing effort in antifungal natural product discovery has led to the identification of five 6-acetylenic acids with chain lengths from C(16) to C(20): 6-hexadecynoic acid (compound 1), 6-heptadecynoic acid (compound 2), 6-octadecynoic acid (compound 3), 6-nonadecynoic acid (compound 4), and 6-icosynoic acid (compound 5) from the plant Sommera sabiceoides. Compounds 2 and 5 represent newly isolated fatty acids. The five acetylenic acids were evaluated for their in vitro antifungal activities against Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Trichophyton rubrum by comparison with the positive control drugs amphotericin B, fluconazole, ketoconazole, caspofungin, terbinafine, and undecylenic acid.

Role of heme in the antifungal activity of the azaoxoaporphine alkaloid sampangine.

Sampangine, a plant-derived alkaloid found in the Annonaceae family, exhibits strong inhibitory activity against the opportunistic fungal pathogens Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus. In the present study, transcriptional profiling experiments coupled with analyses of mutants were performed in an effort to elucidate its mechanism of action. Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism, we show that sampangine produces a transcriptional response indicative of hypoxia, altering the expression of genes known to respond to low-oxygen conditions.

Synthesis, antifungal activity, and structure-activity relationships of coruscanone A analogues.

Coruscanone A, a plant-derived cyclopentenedione derivative, showed potent in vitro antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans comparable to amphotericin B and fluconazole. A series of analogues have been synthesized by modification of the cyclopentenedione ring, the enolic methoxy functionality, and the side chain styryl moiety of this natural product lead. A structurally close 1,4-benzoquinone analogue was also prepared.

Capisterones A and B, which enhance fluconazole activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, from the marine green alga Penicillus capitatus.

A whole-cell-based assay using Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains that overexpress Candida albicans CDR1 and MDR1 efflux pumps has been employed to screen natural product extracts for reversal of fluconazole resistance. The tropical green alga Penicillus capitatus was selected for bioassay-guided isolation, leading to the identification of capisterones A and B (1 and 2), which were recently isolated from this alga and shown to possess antifungal activity against the marine pathogen Lindra thallasiae. Current work has assigned their absolute configurations using electronic circular dichroism and determined their preferred conformations in solution based on detailed NOE analysis.

Phenolic glycosides from Potalia amara.

Investigation of the stem bark of the unique Amazonian herbal plant Potalia amara yielded two new phenolic glycosides, potalioside A (1) and B (2), along with di-O-methylcrenatin (3), 2,6-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenol 1-glucoside and sweroside. The structures of potalioside A and B were established by interpretation of spectral data as 4-hydroxymethyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenyl 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside and 4-hydroxymethyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenyl 1-O-beta- D-xylopyranosyl(1-->6)- beta-D-glucopyranoside, respectively.