Metabolites of Pestalotiopsis spp., endophytic fungi of Taxus brevifolia

Two strains of Pestalotiopsis spp. (JCM 9685 and JCM 9686), endophytic fun,rrl of Taxus brevifolia, produced several new compounds when grown in liquid culture. Detailed investigation on the first of these strains revealed that five of these metabolites were sesquiterpenes: three of the caryophyllene type, pestalotiopsin A, B and C, one possessing the humulane skeleton, and the last one was a drimane derivative. The remaining compounds were two C-methylated acetogenins: (4S*,5R*)-(6Z,8E)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-6,8-decadine and (4S*,5R*)-(2Z,6Z,8E)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-2,6,8-decatrine. Furthermore, an aldehyde closely related to these two triols was obtained from JCM 9686. The isolation and characterization of pestalotiopsin C and of the three new C-methylated acetogenins is described. The chemotaxonomic significance of the latter is discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.