A CHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE FRUIT BODIES OF LEPISTA-NEBULARIS

An investigation of the metabolites present in the intact fruit bodies and those formed as a response to injury of the fruit bodies of Lepis ta nebularis has been performed. In addition to unsaturated and hydrox ylated fatty acids, the intact fruit bodies contain 2,4-diphenyl-2-but enal. The injured specimens also contained (8E)-10-hydroxy-8-decenoic acid and (8E)-10-oxo-8-decenoic acid, presumably formed enzymatically from (12Z)-9,10-dihydroxy-12-octadecenoic acid, as well as small amoun ts of 4-hydroxy-2,4-diphenyl-2-butenal. 2,4-Diphenyl-2-butenal possess weak to intermediate antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities, and it i s possible that the alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes are responsible f or the gastric upsets that may strike consumers of this mushroom.