New sesquiterpenes, JBIR-27 and-28, isolated from a tunicate-derived fungus, Penicillium sp SS080624SCf1

In the course of our screening program for novel metabolites from tunicate-derived fungi, novel sesquiterpenoids, named JBIR-27 (1) and -28 (2), together with known sporogen-AO1 and phomenone, were isolated from the culture broth of Penicillium sp. SS080624SCf1. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined to be eremophilane analogs on the basis of extensive NMR and MS analyses. Sporogen-AO1, phomenone and 2 showed cytotoxicity against human cervical carcinoma cell line HeLa at IC50 values of 8.3, 19 and 92 mu M, respectively, whereas 1 was inactive at a concentration of 80 mu M. The Journal of Antibiotics (2009) 62, 247-250; doi: 10.1038/ja.2009.21; published online 13 March 2009