In vitro antitrypanosomal activity of the cyclodepsipeptides, cardinalisamides A-C, from the insect pathogenic fungus Cordyceps cardinalis NBRC 103832.

During the search for new antitrypanosomal drug leads, three new antitrypanosomal compounds, cardinalisamides A-C (1-3), were isolated from cultures of the insect pathogenic fungus Cordyceps cardinalis NBRC 103832. Their structures were elucidated using MS analyses and extensive 2D-heteronuclear NMR. The absolute configurations of 1-3 were addressed by chemical degradation and Marfey's analysis. 1-3 showed in vitro antitrypanosomal activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei with IC50 values of 8.56, 8.65 and 8.63 μg ml(-1), respectively.