Isolation of bioactive compounds from Aspergillus terreus

Abstract

A new metabolite, 6-(4′-hydroxy-2′-methyl phenoxy)-(-)-(3R)- mellein (1) was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Aspergillus terreus culture medium along with three known isocoumarin derivatives, (-)-(3R)-6-methoxymellein (2), (-)-(3R)-6,7-dimethoxymellein (Kigelin) (3) and (3R, 4R)-6,7-dimethoxy-4-hydroxymellein (4). Metabolites 1 and 4 showed significant activity against human pathogenic dermatophytes, Microsporum canis and Trichophyton longifusus. Metabolite 1 also exhibited potent antioxidant activity. The structures of metabolites were characterized on the basis of spectroscopic techniques. 13C NMR data of metabolites 2-4 are also being reported for the first time.