Discovery of ergosterol derivative from Aspergillus sp. TJ507 that protects against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury is a major cause of hypohepatia after surgical procedures such as hypo-volemic shock, transplantation, and so on. In our continuous study of bioactive natural products from fungus, eight ergosterol-type sterides (1-8), including two undescribed compounds, sterolaspers A (1) and B (2), were isolated from Aspergillus sp. TJ507. Structure elucidation was accomplished by extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison with the reported NMR data as well as X-Ray single crystal diffraction tests. Activity screen of these isolates showed 5 alpha-stigmast-3,6-dione (3) possessing anti-hypoxia injury effects against CoCl2-induced hypoxia damage in hepatocytes. More importantly, compound 3 could improve liver function, alleviate liver damage, and restrain the hepatocellular apoptosis in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury murine model. As such, this ergosterol-type steride, 5 alpha-stigmast-3,6-dione (3), might serve as lead structure for the development of novel hepatoprotective agents in the clinical treatment of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Automated summary

Eight ergosterol-type sterides were isolated from Aspergillus sp. TJ507, among which compound 3 showed protective effects against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury and could serve as a lead structure for the development of novel hepatoprotective agents.