NEW CYTOTOXIC SESQUITERPENOID NITROBENZOYL ESTERS FROM A MARINE ISOLATE OF THE FUNGUS ASPERGILLUS VERSICOLOR

Four new sesquiterpenoid nitrobenzoyl esters (1-4) have been isolated from organic extracts of the culture broth and mycelia of Aspergillus versicolor, a fungus isolated from the surface of the Caribbean green alga Penicillus capitatus. The structures of the four compounds were d etermined through extensive analysis of H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, HMQC, and H MBC data. 9 alpha,14-Dihydroxy-6 beta-p-nitrobenzoylcinnamolide (1) di splayed significant cytoxicity against HCT-116 human colon carcinoma c ells in vitro and exhibited moderately selective cytotoxicity toward a panel of renal tumor cell lines. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. Ali r ights reserved.