Chemical constituents from the fungus Monascus purpureus and their antifungal activity

One new cyclohex-2-enone derivative, purpureusone (1), together with seven known compounds (2-8) were isolated from the n-BuOH-soluble fraction of the 95% EtOH extract of the red yeast rice fermented with the yellow mutant of the fungus Monascus purpureus BCRC 38038. Their structures were characterized by direct interpretation of their spectroscopic methods, including 1D NMR (H-1, C-13 NMR, DEPT), 2D NMR (COSY, NOESY, HSQC and HMBC), and HRESIMS. Purpureusone (1) contains a cyclohex-2-enone skeleton connected with one gamma-lactone ring, one octanoyl, and 2-oxopentyl side chains. Some isolates were evaluated for their antifungal effect against Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a TLC bioautographic method. Compound 1 showed antifungal inhibitory activity in vitro. (C) 2011 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.