Wednesday, 6 December 2017

Chemistry, Origin, Antitumor and Other Activities of Fungal Homo-Dimeric Alkaloids



Homo-dimeric alkaloids produced by fungi, lichenized fungi and fungal endophytes are a structurally unique class of natural products with extensive biological activities that are presented in this article. More than 100 selected fungal metabolites have been confirmed to exhibit antitumor, antimicrobial, antibacterial, and other activities.

Alkaloids are nitrogen-containing metabolites found mainly in plant species; they are also found in fungi, microorganisms and marine invertebrates. Studies on bioactive alkaloids, done with respect to both their biological activity and the role of alkaloids in the introduction of new drugs, have gained considerable importance during the past fifty years, and have been received a prominent position in the field of organic and medicinal chemistry.

Homo-dimeric alkaloids produced by fungi are a structurally unique class of natural products with extensive biological activities that are presented in this article. This mini-review article is intended to provide an overview of the properties of homo-dimeric alkaloids produced by fungi, fungal endophytes, and lichenized fungi.

All dimeric alkaloids are complex molecules consisting of two structurally similar monomers linked by bonds that can be weak or strong, covalent or intermolecular. The term homodimer is used when the two monomer molecules are identical. The alkaloidal pigment necatarone, its dehydrodimer, which prevails in aged fruiting bodies, and its 10-deoxydehydrodimer are major pigments of the green-brown flesh and cap skin of Lactarius turpis.

endophytic fungus C. globosum. The culture broth of Chaetomium fusiforme, from liverwort Scapania verrucosa, afforded two azaphilone alkaloids called chaetofusins A and B. Both compounds have shown antifungal activity.

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