Atromentin Anticoagulant from Hydnellum diabolus

Gross screening revealed that Hydnellum diabolus Banker contained a parenterally effective anticoagulant, while H. aurantiacum , H. caeruleum , and Hydnum laevigatum lacked activity. A 70 per cent ethanolic extract of H. diabolus contained all anticoagulant activity as well as pressor-leiomyotonic principles. The anticoagulant activity grossly resembled that of heparin, except that in vivo activity was not reversed by protamine injection. In vivo , 1 mg. of the ethanol extract was equivalent to 0.58 u. of heparin. Selective solvent extraction of the mushroom with diethyl ether removed all anticoagulant activity, and from this extract atromentin was isolated. In vitro , 1 mg. of atromentin was equivalent to 5.1 u. of heparin and 2.3 mg. of reference 70 per cent ethanol extract. Synthetic dimethylatromentin, 2,5-diphenylbenzoquinone, and polyporic acid were without anticoagulant properties.