Four eremophilane sesquiterpenes from the mangrove endophytic fungus Xylaria sp. BL321.

Three new eremophilane sesquiterpenes (1-3) were isolated from the mangrove endophytic fungus Xylaria sp. BL321 together with 07H239-A (4), a known analogue of the new compounds. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by analysis of their MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. Compound 4 showed activation activity on α-glucosidase at 0.15 μM (146%), and then, 4 gradually produced inhibitory activity on α-glucosidase with increasing concentration, and the IC₅₀ value is 6.54 μM.

1. Introduction

Many structurally novel and biologically active metabolites have been isolated and characterized from the fungal genus Xylaria, including cytochalasins [1,2,3], phytotoxins [2], xyloketals [4,5,6,7], cyclopeptides [8,9,10], lactones [11,12], xanthones [13,14], sesquiterpenes [15,16], and aromatic derivatives [17,18]. Our previous studies on the mangrove endophytic fungus Xylaria sp. 2508 had led to the isolation of a series of the above mentioned compounds [5,6,7,8,9,10,17,18]. These findings on fungus Xylaria sp. 2508 encouraged chemical research resulting in the isolation of two new lactones from a endophytic fungus Xylaria sp. BL321 [19]. The current study presents additional chemical investigation performed on Xylaria sp. BL321 that led to the discovery of three new eremophilane sesquiterpenes (1–3) and a known analogue 07H239-A (4) [15] isolated by extensive silica gel column chromatography and semipreparative HPLC.

Herein, we report the isolation, structure elucidation and enzyme-based biological assays against α-glucosidase of the four eremophilane sesquiterpenes.

2. Results and Discussion

Compound 1 was obtained as a white solid. The HREIMS results established the molecular formular C26H34O6 (m/z 442.2345 [M]+, calcd. 442.2350), and suggested ten degrees of unsaturation in the structure of this compound. Its IR spectrum indicated the presence of a hydroxyl group at 3300~2700 cm−1 and carbonyl, together with conjugated carbonyl absorptions at 1728, 1705, 1682 and 1648 cm−1. The UV absorption band at 261 nm showed the present of a conjugated dienoate system. The existence of a ketone carbonyl (δC 197.1, C-8), a formyl group (δH 9.56, δC 193.3, C-12), a carboxyl group (δC 177.6, C-14), and an ester carbonyl (δC 165.9, C-1') were confirmed by the 1H, 13C and HMQC NMR data (Table 1). The NMR data also supported the existence of three methyls, seven methylenes including a terminal olefinic carbon (C-13), five unsaturated methines, four aliphatic methines, and three quaternary carbons. Analysis of the COSY spectrum disclosed three spin systems of H-1–H-4, H-6–H-7, and H-2'–H-10' and H-8'–H-11', which led to the establishment of the structure fragments C-1–C-4, C-6–C-7, and the long side chain incorporated a 1,3-diene, respectively. The HMBC correlations of H-4/C-5 and H-6/C-5 suggested that fragments C-1–C-4 and C-6–C-7 were connected through a quaternary carbon (C-5). An isolated methyl (δH 1.54, δC 19.8, C-15) was linked to C-5 supported by the HMBC correlations of H3-15/C-4, C-5, C-6. The HMBC cross peaks of H-13/C-11, and of H-12/C-11, C-13 indicated that the formyl group (C-12) was attached to a terminal olefin (C-11–C-13) to build the acrylaldehyde moiety. Further HMBC correlations of H-12/C-7 and H-13/C-7 located the unsaturated aldehyde at C-7. The carbonyl (C-8) was conjugated with an olefinic bond (C-9–C-10) to form an α,β-unsaturated ketone, which was proved by the HMBC correlation of H-9/C-8 and H-9/C-10. These HMBC correlations from H-9 to C-1, C-7, C-5, from H3-15 to C-10, and from H-6 to C-8, C-10 established the two six-membered rings backbone. This structure elucidation was in agreement with the remaining two degrees of unsaturation. The HMBC correlation between the proton of the oxygen-bearing methine (C-1) and the carbonyl (C-1') implied the presence of an ester bond at C-1. The 13C NMR chemical shift (δC 165.9) of carbonyl carbon indicated it was connected with the 1,3-diene to form a conjugated system as evident by the HMBC correlation of H-3'/C-1'. As determined from the HMBC correlation of H-4/C-14, the carboxyl group was linked to C-4. Thus, the planar structure of compound 1 was established.

Table 1

1H and 13C NMR data of compounds 1–3, J in Hz.

	1 a		2 b		3 b
Position	δC, mult.	δH (J in Hz)	δC, mult.	δH (J in Hz)	δC, mult.	δH (J in Hz)
a Measured in CDCl3 at 400 MHz (1H) and 100 MHz (13C); b Measured in CDCl3 at 500 MHz (1H) and 125 MHz (13C).
1	72.7, CH	5.54, (t, 3.0)	72.7, CH	5.51, (t, 3.0)	73.0, CH	5.53, (bs)
2	30.0, CH2	2.17, (m)	29.9, CH	2.16, (m)	29.9, CH2	2.19, (m)
		1.75, (m)		1.71, (m)		1.75, (m)
3	20.2, CH2	2.36, (m)	20.8, CH2	2.31, (m)	20.3, CH2	2.32, (m)
		1.87, (m),		1.81, (m)		1.75, (m)
4	53.5, CH	2.47, (dd, 13.2, 3.1)	53.3, CH	2.45, (d, 12.5)	53.6, CH	2.47, (m)
5	38.6, C		38.6, C		38.5, C
6	43.4, CH2	2.30, (m)	43.5, CH2	2.29, (m)	43.4, CH2	2.31, (m)
		2.14, (m)		2.13, (m)		2.16, (m)
7	43.3, CH	3.75, (dd, 14.7, 4.6)	43.4, CH	3.71, (dd, 14.2, 3.7)	43.4, CH	3.74, (d, 13.0)
8	197.1, C		197.0, C		197.0, C
9	129.8, CH	6.12, (s)	129.8, CH	6.09, (s)	129.8, CH	6.10, (s)
10	159.1, C		159.2, C		159.3, C
11	147.9, C		148.0, C		147.9, C
12	193.3, CH	9.56, (s)	193.3, CH	9.52, (s)	193.3, CH	9.54, (s)
13	136.6, CH2	6.37, ( s)	136.6, CH2	6.33, (s)	136.6, CH2	6.36, (s)
		6.26, (s)		6.22, (s)		6.24, (s)
14	177.6, C		not observed		not observed
15	19.8, CH3	1.54, (s)	19.9, CH3	1.24, (s)	19.8, CH3	1.56, (s)
1'	165.9, C		166.3, C		167.3, C
2'	118.6, CH	5.77, (d, 15.2)	114.9, CH	5.72, (d, 15.5)	124.7, C
3'	146.3, CH	7.28, (ddd, 15.2, 6.4, 3.6)	151.0, CH	7.29, (d, 15.5)	140.1, CH	7.15, (d, 11.3)
4'	128.2, CH	6.20, ( m)	132.7, C		124.2, CH	6.30, (dd, 15.0, 11.3)
5'	146.4, CH	6.18, (m)	144.0, CH	5.91, (t, 7.4)	150.3, CH	5.93, (dd, 15.0, 8.5)
6'	30.9, CH2	2.19, (m)	26.8, CH2	2.20, (m)	35.6, CH	2.39, (m)
7'	35.6, CH2	1.47, (m)	30.0, CH2	1.42, (m)	32.2, CH	1.31, (m)
		1.27, (m)		1.22, (m)	44.2, CH2	1.35, (m)
8'	34.2, CH2	1.36, (m)	34.3, CH	1.33, (m)		1.13, (m)
9'	29.5, CH2	1.39, (m)	35.9, CH2	1.15, (m)	11.5, CH3	0.82, (t, 6.2)
		1.17, (m)
10'	11.5, CH3	0.87, (t, 7.2)	19.2, CH3	0.87, (t, 6.2)	12.9, CH3	1.94, (s)
11'	19.2, CH3	0.89, (d, 6.4)	12.3, CH3	1.76, (s)	21.4, CH3	1.04, (d, 6.7)
12'			11.5, CH3	0.81, (d, 6.3)	19.2, CH3	0.81, (3H, d, 7.3)

The relative configuration of 1 was determined by 3JH-H values in 1H NMR spectrum and NOESY experiment (Figure 1). The small coupling constant (3JH-H = 2.6 Hz) of H-1/H-2 indicated that the H-1 was equatorially oriented, which was supported by the correlation of H-1/H-9 in NOESY. The large coupling constants of H-4/H-3 and H-7/H-6 (3JH-H = 13.2, 14.7 Hz, respectively) suggested H-4 and H-7 have axial orientation. The NOESY correlation between H-7 and H3-15 located CH3-15 and H-7 at the same side of the molecular surface, which led to the trans configuration of H3-15/H-4. The strongly coupled protons at the double bond C-2'-C-3' (3JH-H = 15.2 Hz) defined E-configuration to this olefinic bond. Though the coupling constant of H-4'/H-5' was not able to be determined due to the overlapped signals, the Z-configuration was assigned to the double bond C-4'–C-5' on the basis of the NOE between H-3' and H-6'. Therefore, compound 1 was identified as a new eremophilane sesquiterpene as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 1

COSY, Key HMBC, and NOESY correlations of compound 1.

Figure 2

Structure of compounds 1–4 isolated fromfungus Xylaria sp. BL321.

Compound 2 was obtained as a white solid. Its molecular formula C27H36O6 was established from the peak at m/z 455.2446 ([M − H]−, calcd. 455.2434) revealed by HRESIMS, which is 14 mass unit higher than 1. The 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic data of 2 disclosed those structural features similar to those found in 1 (Table 1), except the unsaturated proton (δH 6.20, H-4') signal in 1 was missing, and an unsaturated quaternary carbon signal (δC 132.7, C-4') and an additional isolated methyl signal (δH 1.76, s; δC 12.3, C-11') were observed. Its 13C NMR chemical shift value of C-3' shifted downfield from δC 146.3 in 1 to δC 150.0 in 2. Comprehensive comparison of the NMR spectra of 2 with that of 1 revealed that the olefinic proton (H-4') at the side chain of 1 was replaced by a methyl group (C-11') in 2. This was supported by the COSY correlations of H-5'–H-10', H-12'/H-8' and H-2'/H-3', and the HMBC correlations from H-11' to C-3', C-4', C-5'. (Figure 3) The configuration of the two double bonds were assigned to be E configuration due to the large coupling constant (3JH-H = 15.5 Hz) of H-2'/H-3', as well as the NOE correlations of H-6'/H-11' and H-3'/H-5'. The relative configuration of C-1, C-4, C-5 and C-7 were assigned as the same as those in 1 on the basis of the similar coupling constants. Thus, the structure of 2 was established as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 3

Key COSY, HMBC, and NOESY correlations of the side chain in compounds 2–3.

Compound 3 shares the same molecular formula of C27H36O6 with 2, as determined by the HRESIMS results. The 1H and 13C NMR data showed the presence of five methyl signals, indicating that 3 has two more methyl groups than 1. Furthermore, the unsaturated methine (CH-2') and the methylene (CH2-6') signals in 1 were absent, while an additional unsaturated quaternary carbon signal at δC 124.7 (C-2') and an additional methine at δH 2.39, δC 35.6 (CH-6') were observed. Comparing the 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic data of 3 with those of 1 and 2 revealed that 3 possess an identical double ring backbone to those found in 1 and 2, but with a different side chain at C-1. The structure of this side chain was deduced from COSY and HMBC spectra. In the HMBC spectrum, the correlations from H3-10' to C-1', C-2', C-3' linked the methyl group (Me-10') to quaternary C-2'. The COSY experiment gave a spin system of H-3'–H-9', H-6'–H-11', H-7'–H-12', establishing the remaining structural fragment of the side chain, as shown in Figure 3. The configurations of the two olefins on the side chain were determined to be E in the same fashion as that in 2, based on 3JH-4'' = 15.5 Hz and the NOE of H-10'/H-4'.

Compound 4 was isolated as the main product, which structure was determined to be the known compound 07H239-A by comparing the 1D and 2D data with the reported data in the literature [15].

The literature suggests that eremophilane sesquiterpenes with an ester side chain possess various biological activities. Compound 4 and its derivatives [20] showed cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines, while eremoxylarins A and B displayed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa [21], and Sch 420789 had phospholipase D inhibitory activity [22]. Unfortunately, the new eremophilane sesquiterpenes (1–3) did not show cytotoxic activity against the cell lines of MDA-MB-435, A549, Hep3B, PC-3 in our study, though their structures are highly related to that of 4. Compounds 1 and 4 were further evaluated for their effects on α-glucosidase using an enzyme-based bioassay. Compound 1 had no detectable effect on α-glucosidase. Compounds 4 showed the best activation effect on α-glucosidase at the concentration of 0.15 μM, which enhanced the enzyme activity to a level of 146%. However, compound 4 showed gradually higher inhibitory activity toward α-glucosidase with increasing concentration, and an IC50 value of 6.54 μM. Compound 2 and 3 were not tested due to the limited amounts obtained.

3. Experimental Section

3.1. General Experimental Procedures

Melting points were determined on SFW-X-4 apparatus. Optical rotations measurements were carried out on a Polaptronic HNQW5 (Schmidt-Haensch) spectrometer. UV spectra were determined on a UV-2501 PC (Shzmadzu) spectrometer. IR spectra were measured on a 5DX-FTIR (Nicolet) spectrometer. 1H NMR and 13C NMR data were acquired on a Bruker AVANCE 400 spectrometer at 400 MHz for 1H nucleus and 100 MHz for 13C nucleus, and a Varian INOVA500NB spectrometer at 500 MHz for 1H nucleus and 125 MHz for 13C nucleus. TMS was used as an internal standard and chemical shifts (δ) were expressed in ppm. ESIMS, HRESIMS, EIMS and HREIMS were operated on LCQ-DECA-XP (Thermo), LCMS-IT-TOF (Shimadzu), DSQ (Thermo) and Mat95XP (Thermo) mass spectrometers, respectively. Column chromatography (CC) was carried out on silica gel (200–300 mesh, Qingdao Marine Chemical Inc.). HPLC was performed on a 515 pump with a UV 2487 detector (Waters) using an Ultimate XB-C18 column (250 × 10 mm, 5 μ; Welch).

3.2. Fermentation

The small agar slice bearing mycelia, which were stocked and incubated at 25 °C on PDA (Potato Dextrose Agar) medium, was placed in GYT medium (1% glucose, 0.1% yeast extract, 0.2% peptone, 0.2% crude sea salt) in 500 mL Erlenmeyer flasks containing 250 mL GYT and incubated at 28 °C, 120 rpm for 6 days as seed culture. A 150 L large scale fermentation was performed using multiple 1000 mL Erlenmeyer flasks, each containing 500 mL GYT. Each flask was inoculated with 1 mL seed culture and incubated at 28 °C for 30 days under static conditions.

3.3. Extraction and Isolation

The smashed dry mycelia of the fungus were extracted using EtOAc (EA), and then the extract solution was concentrated to dryness. The EA extract was subjected to silica gel CC eluting with petroleum ether (PE)/EA mixtures of increasing polarity. The filtered fraction (ca. 500 mg) eluted by PE/EA (65/35) was further isolated by using extensively semi-preparative RP HPLC eluted with MeOH/H2O/acetic acid (85/15/0.1) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, detected under UV 254 nm and afford compounds 1 (41 mg, tR = 32.16), 2 (5 mg, tR = 45.88), 3 (3 mg, tR = 57.15), 4 (340 mg, tR = 38.31), respectively.

Compound 1: mp 159~161 °C; [α]25D −19 (c 0.145, MeOH); UV (MeOH) λmax (log ε) 261 (4.58) nm; IR (KBr) νmax 3453, 1728, 1705, 1682 and 1648 cm−1; 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz), 13C NMR (CDCl3, 100 MHz), see Table 1; EIMS m/z (rel. int.) 442 [M]+ (0.5), 278 (4), 260 (24), 165 (100), 81 (34). HREIMS m/z 442.2345 [M]+ (calcd. for C26H34O6, 442.2350).

Compound 2: mp 141~143 °C; [α]25D −14 (c 0.047, MeOH); UV (MeOH) λmax (log ε) 262 (4.86) nm; IR (KBr) νmax 3366, 1726, 1683, 1647 and 1621 cm−1; 1H NMR (CDCl3, 500 MHz), 13C NMR (CDCl3, 125 MHz), see Table 1; EIMS m/z (rel. int.): 278 (3), 260 (48), 91 (100). HRESIMS m/z 455.2446 [M − H]− (calcd. for C27H36O6, 455.2434).

Compound 3: [α]25D −47 (c 0.052, MeOH); UV (MeOH) λmax (log ε) 269 (4.06) nm; IR (KBr) νmax 3394, 1732, 1704, 1680 and 1651 cm−1; 1H NMR (CDCl3, 500 MHz), 13C NMR (CDCl3, 125 MHz), see Table 1; EIMS, m/z (rel. int.): 278 (1), 260 (98), 111 (100), 69 (52). HRESIMS m/z 455.2441 [M − H]− C27H36O6 (calcd. for 455.2434).

3.4. Biological Assays

The enzyme-based assay against α-glucosidase was operated using a modified method based on those previously reported [23,24]. Briefly, α-glucosidase activity was assayed with 1 mL reaction volume in 0.01 M phosphate buffer solution (PBS) at pH 7.0, while p-nitrophenyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (PNPG) was used as substrate. 10 μL of enzyme solution (5 U/mL in PBS), 950 μL PBS and 20 μL the tested compound (solution in DMSO) were mixed and incubated at 37 °C for 20 min, and then the substrate PNPG 20 μL (3 mg/mL) was added to initiate the enzyme reaction. The absorbance was immediately determined at 400 nm with spectrophotometer.

4. Conclusions

This investigation has led to the isolation of four eremophilane sesquiterpenes including the known compound 07H239-A (4), which enriched this family of compounds. Compounds 1–3 were found to be inactive to the test cell lines, which supported that their side chain may play an important role in the cytotoxic activity [20]. The activity of compound 4 against α-glucosidase was found for the first time.