Isolation of a toxic metabolite, asteltoxin, from Emericella variecolor

Abstract

A toxic metabolite, tentatively designated as EV-toxin, was isolated from moldy rice artificialy infected with Emericella variecolor NHL 2881. The spectral data of EV-toxin were observed to be identical with those of asteltoxin isolated from Aspergillus stellatus. EV-toxin was lethal to mice, causing loss of righting reflex, paralysis of hindleg and decreasing respiratory rate. The i.p. LD₅₀ in mice was 5.9 mg/kg (95% confidence limit: 5.33-6.53).