Biotransformation of Huperzine A by Irpex lacteus-A fungal endophyte of Huperzia serrata

The biotransformation of huperzine A (hupA), one of the characteristic bioactive constituents of the medicinal plant Huperzia serrata, by a fungal endophyte of the host plant was studied. Two previously undescribed compounds 1–2, along with a known analog 8α,15α-epoxyhuperzine A (3), were isolated and identified. The structures of all the isolates were established by spectroscopic methods including NMR, MS, IR, and UV spectra. In particular, the absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were elucidated by CD spectra comparison and theoretic NOE strength calculation. In the LPS-induced neuro-inflammation injury assay, 1–3 exhibited moderate neuroprotective activity by increasing the viability of U251 cell lines with EC50 values of 35.3 ± 0.9, 32.1 ± 0.9, and 50.3 ± 0.8 nM, respectively.