Two new phthalide derivatives from the endophytic fungus Penicillium vulpinum isolated from Sophora tonkinensis.

Two new phthalide derivatives, (-)-3-carboxypropyl-7-hydroxyphthalide (1) and (-)-3-carboxypropyl-7-hydroxyphthalide methyl ester (2), were isolated from the endophytic fungus Penicillium vulpinum isolated from the Chinese medicinal plant Sophora tonkinensis. Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods, mainly on 1D and 2D NMR. Compound 1 exhibited medium antibacterial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Shigella dysenteriae and Enterobacter areogenes with MIC values of 12.5-25 μg/mL, and 2 showed a medium inhibition to E. areogenes with MIC value of 12.5 μg/mL.