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Three previously undescribed compounds including two ergosterols, diaporthins A and B (1 and 2), and a pyrrolidinone derivative, (±)-diaporthin C (3), together with three known compounds 4‒6, were isolated from cultures of kiwi-associated fungus Diaporthe phragmitis. The racemic 3 was further separated into pure enantiomers. Their structures with absolute configurations were elucidated by means of spectroscopic analysis, as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Compounds 5 and 6 showed antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidae with MIC values of 25 and 6.25 μg/mL, respectively.

Three undescribed bisabolane sesquiterpenoids, zopfiellins A–C (1‒3), and one new α-pyrone derivative, zofiellone (4), have been isolated from cultures of the endophytic fungus Zopfiella sp. Compound 2 is a rare trinor-bisabolane sesquiterpenoid and 3 has an unusual aromatic core. Compounds 3 and 4 possess mild cytotoxicities against three human cancer cell lines with a range of IC50 values from 12.3–27.3 μM.

Two previously undescribed cadinane-type sesquiterpenoids, rigidoporones A and B (1 and 2), along with an undescribed racemic indolizine alkaloid, (±)-rigidoporine A (3), were isolated from the rice fermentation of the wood-decay fungus Rigidoporus microporus. The structures of the compounds were established by extensive spectroscopic methods, including 1D & 2D NMR and HRMS spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1 and 3 were evaluated for their inhibitory activity on NO production in murine monocytic RAW264.7 macrophages (IC50 > 25 μM).

Two undescribed piperidine racemates, (±)-caulophines A and B (1 and 2), a new N-containing xanthone derivative (3), together with six known piperidines, were isolated from the roots of Caulophyllum robustum Maxim. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic techniques. Compounds 3 and 7 exhibited weak cytotoxicities against human palace cancer hela cell line with inhibitory rates of 32.2% and 39.7%, respectively, at the concentration of 40 μM.

Seven previously undescribed trichothecenes, named trichothecrotocins M–S (1–7), along with five known compounds, were isolated from rice cultures of the potato-associated fungus Trichothecium crotocinigenum. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined through spectroscopic methods, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and quantum chemistry calculations on ECD. Compound 1 possesses a rare 6,11-epoxy moiety in the trichothecene family. Compound 6 exhibited strong cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cancer cell lines with an IC50 value of 2.34 ± 0.45 μM. It promoted apoptosis induction in MCF-7 cells. Moreover, cell cycle analysis showed cell cycle arrest caused by compound 6 at the G2/M phase which resulted to cell proliferation inhibition and pro-apoptotic activity. Further quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis confirmed that the G2/M arrest was accompanied by upregulation of p21 and down regulation of cyclins B1 in 6-treated MCF-7 cells.

The chemical constituents and their biological activities of the mushroom Pyropolyporus fomentarius were investigated in this study. Two previously undescribed pentacyclic lupane-type triterpenes, 3-formyloxybetulin and 3-formyloxybetulinic acid, two rare degraded ergosterols, pyropolincisterols A and B, along with ten known triterpenoids and four known ergosterols were isolated from the fruiting bodies of P. fomentarius. Their chemical structures were determined using a combination of spectroscopic analysis. Nine compounds exhibited certain cytotoxicities to human cancer cell lines, while polyporenic acid showed significant cytotoxicities to SMMC-7721 and A-549 with IC50 values less than 10 μM. Four compounds showed inhibitory activities against nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages with IC50 values of 36.3, 25.1, 21.4, and 34.2 μM, respectively. The results of this assessment suggested that the lanostane triterpenoids and ergosterols in fruiting bodies of P. fomentarius played key roles in its folk usages.

Three new indole alkaloids, ophiorrhines C–D (1–3), together with one known analogue, have been isolated from the plant of Ophiorrhiza cantoniensis Hace. The structures of the new alkaloids with the absolute configurations were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and calculated nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with DP4+ analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited certain activity to Con-A induced T cell proliferation, and 1 exhibited good inhibition on LPS-induced B cell proliferation with an IC50 value of 8.7 μM.

Three depsidones boremexins A–C (1–3), two diaryl ethers boremexins D (4) and E (5), together with four known compounds were obtained from cultures of potato endophytic fungus Boeremia exigua. Their structures with absolute configurations were established by extensive spectroscopic methods and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Compounds 1–4, 6, and 9 displayed anti-inflammatory properties on nitric oxide production in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages with an IC50 range of 19.4–34.4 μM. Compounds 2 and 5 exhibited cytotoxicities to human breast cancer cell line (MCF–7) with IC50 values of 33.1 and 4.0 μM, respectively.