Nerve Growth Factor-Potentiating Benzofuran Derivatives from the Medicinal Fungus Phellinus ribis

Four new benzofuran derivatives, ribisin A (1), ribisin B (2), ribisin C (3), and ribisin D (4), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the fruiting bodies of Phellinus ribis. Their structures including their absolute configurations were determined by NMR and CD exciton chirality methods. Compounds 1-4 were found to promote neurite outgrowth in NGF-mediated PC12 cells at concentrations ranging from 1 to 30 mu M. The structure-activity relationships of these compounds are also discussed.