Cytotoxic mycoepoxydiene derivatives from an endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. isolated from Hydnocarpus anthelminthicus

Mycoepoxydiene ( 1) and derivatives, deacetylmycoepoxydiene ( 2) and 2,3-dihydromycoepoxydiene ( 3), were isolated from a broth extract of the endophytic fungus, phomopsis sp., which was isolated from a Thai medicinal plant, Hydnocarpus anthelminthicus. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited potent cytotoxic activity, while a dihydro derivative 3 was inactive. The present work suggests that the alpha,beta-unsaturated lactone moiety in mycoepoxydienes might be responsible for the cytotoxicity.