TOXICITY AND MUTAGENICITY OF MOLDS OF THE ASPERGILLUS-GLAUCUS GROUP - IDENTIFICATION OF PHYSCION AND 3 RELATED ANTHRAQUINONES AS MAIN TOXIC CONSTITUENTS FROM ASPERGILLUS-CHEVALIERI

Several strains of the Aspergillus glaucus group were screened for their production of known mycotoxins, and the toxicity of organic extracts of the cultures was tested. One strain of A. chevalieri, ZT 8268, was selected for further investigation. Four anthraquinone derivatives were isolated and identified by UV, IR, NMR, and mass spectra. These compounds, physcion, physcionanthrone (described as phys-ciondianthranol; J.N. Ashley, H. Raistrick, T. Richards Biochem. J. 1939, 33, 1291), physcionanthrone B, and erythroglaucin, were tested for toxicity in the mouse and chicken embryo (except dianthrone), 1-day old cockerels and for mutagenicity (except dianthrone) in the “Salmonella/mammalian microsome” test (strains TA 1535, TA 100, TA 1537, and TA 98). The isolated compounds were found to be toxic by intraperitoneal injection in the mouse and in the chicken embryo test and were positive in the mutagenicity test (strain TA 1537). No toxic effects could be demonstrated after oral application in the mouse and in 1-day-old cockerels. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.