On isolation of spiculisporic acid, a toxic metabolite from Talaromyces panasenkoi

Abstract

The toxic principle of an ascomycetous fungus, Talaromyces panasenkoi, whose ethyl acetate extract was found to be lethal to mice, has been proved to be spiculisporic acid by the chemical and spectral characterization and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Spiculisporic acid was formerly isolated from Penicillium spiculisporum (Talaromyces trachyspermus), P. minioluteum, and P. purpurogenum (as P, crateriforme), but the toxic property of this metabolite has not been known. Intraperitoneal administration of spiculisporic acid causes lethal peritonitis in mice.