Anti-HIV-1 and anti-HIV-1-protease substances from Ganoderma lucidum

A new highly oxygenated triterpene named ganoderic acid alpha has been isol ated from a methanol extract of the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum to gether with twelve known compounds. The structures of the isolated compound s were determined by spectroscopic means including 2D-NMR. Ganoderiol F and ganodermanontriol were found to be active as anti-HIV-1 agents with an inh ibitory concentration of 7.8 mu g ml(-1) for both, and ganoderic acid B, ga noderiol B, ganoderic acid C1, 3 beta-5 alpha-dihydroxy-6 beta-methoxyergos ta-7,22-diene, ganoderic acid alpha, ganoderic acid H and ganoderiol A were moderately active inhibitors against HIV-1 PR with a 50% inhibitory concen tration of 0.17-0.23 mM. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .