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Title: ANTIINSECTAN DECATURIN AND OXALICINE ANALOGS FROM PENICILLIUM THIERSII

Author
item LI, CHEN - UNIV OF IA, IA CTY, IA
item GLOER, JAMES - UNIV OF IA, IA CTY, IA
item Wicklow, Donald
item Dowd, Patrick

Submitted to: Journal of Natural Products
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/5/2004
Publication Date: 1/15/2005
Citation: Li, C., Gloer, J.B., Wicklow, D.T., Dowd, P.F. 2005. Antiinsectan decaturin and oxalicine analogs from Penicillium thiersii. Journal of Natural Products. 68:319-322.

Interpretive Summary: There is an urgent need for new sources of antiinsectan agents that can be used in combating insect pests of crops and species of wild mushrooms which are typically free of insects offer a potential source of novel insecticides useful to agriculture. The fungus Penicillium thiersii produced several antiinsectan agents with potent activity against larvae of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), an important insect pest of corn and other crops. Chemical studies revealed three antiinsectan metabolites new to science while others represent known compounds. Insect resistance to pesticides has become increasingly problematic in recent years and new classes of environmentally friendly agricultural pesticides are also needed. These results will benefit agriculture by offering novel lead compounds with antiinsectan activity, information that can be used to guide the synthesis of such pesticides.

Technical Abstract: Three new oxalicine and decaturin analogs have been isolated from organic extracts of Penicillium thiersii, along with the known compounds oxalicines A and B. These compounds are members of a group of unique natural products containing terpenoid and pyridine moieties. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by analysis of NMR and MS data. Most of these metabolites exhibit potent antiinsectan activity against the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda).