Natural products from Scleroderma sp. and Leptoscyphus expansus (Lehm.) Grolle

Abstract

The natural products from an un-identified Scleroderma sp. and Leptoscyphus expansus (Lehm.) Grolle were studied. A total of five known compounds were isolated from Scleroderma sp. Of the five compounds isolated, four were pulvinic acid derivatives which were responsible for the distinctive colour of the fungus. The four pulvinic acid derivatives are methyl-4,4'-di-O-methylatromentate (56), methyl per-O-methyl-4E-atromentate (57), methyl per-O-methyl-4Z-atromentate (58) and methyl 3',5'-dichloro-4,4'-di-O-methylatromentate (66). The fifth compound from this fungus was a triterpenoid, (22R,23E)-22-Acetoxylanosta-8,23-diene-3N1,25-diol (70).All of these compounds have been reported from an unknown species of Lycoperdon sp. These results showed that the two fungi share similar biosynthesis pathway despite the fact that they are from two different families. A total of seven compounds were isolated from the liverwort Leptoscyphus expansus (Lehm.) Grolle. Five of these were known flavones, all of which were reported elsewhere and they show bioactivities against various diseases. The flavones are 5-hydroxyl-7-methoxyflavone (92), 5-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone (95), 5,7-dimethoxyflavone (97), 5-hydroxy-6, 7-dimethoxyflavone (98) and 5, 6, 7-trimethoxyflavone (Baicalein trimethyl ether) (102). A Chromene, methyl 5, 7-dihydroxy-2, 2-dimethyl-2H-chromene-6-carboxylate (103) and a bibenzyls, 2, 2-dimethyl-5-methoxy-8-carboxy-7-(2-phenylethyl) chromene (108) were also isolated from the liverwort.