New phenylphenalenones from banana fruit

Six new phenylphenalenone derivatives were isolated from unripe banana, Musa acuminata, fruit that had been wounded followed by inoculation with Colletotrichum musae. Absolute configurations of optically active phenylphenalenone derivatives were elucidated by their chemical conversion to L-arabitol pentaacetate. Antifungal activities against C. musae and a biosynthetic pathway of phenylphenalenones are also discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.