VINIGROL, A NOVEL ANTIHYPERTENSIVE AND PLATELET AGGREGATION INHIBITORY AGENT PRODUCED BY A FUNGUS, VIRGARIA NIGRA

I. TAXONOMY, FERMENTATION, ISOLATION, PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Abstract

Vinigrol, produced by a fungal strain identified as Virgaria nigra, was extracted from the cultured mycelium, purified by solvent extraction followed by chromatography on silica gel and then isolated as crystals (C₂₀H₃₄O₃, mp 108°C). Vinigrol decreased arterial blood pressure of anesthetized normotensive rats dose-dependently when administered intravenously. Vinigrol inhibited platelet activating factor and epinephrine induced platelet aggregation.