2 FUNGAL LANOSTANE DERIVATIVES AS PHOSPHOLIPASE A(2) INHIBITORS

The hydroalcoholic extract of Poria cocos and two lanostane derivative s isolated from it, pachymic acid (1) and dehydrotumulosic acid (2), w ere active as inhibitors of phospholipase A(2) from snake venom when a polarographic method was used. Dehydrotumulosic acid exhibited an IC5 0 of 0.845 mM. These two compounds are structurally related to certain triterpenoids from Ganoderma and Schinus that have previously been de scribed as competitive inhibitors of phospholipase A(2). These compris e a new group of natural potential antiinflammatory agents due to thei r interaction with that enzyme.