Metabolites from the Endophytic Fungus <i>Curvularia</i> sp. M12 Act as Motility Inhibitors against <i>Phytophthora capsici</i> Zoospores

Abstract

The endophytic fungus Curvularia sp., strain M12, was isolated from a leaf of the medicinal plant Murraya koenigii and cultured on rice medium followed by chemical screening of the culture extract. Chromatographic analysis led to the isolation of four new compounds, murranofuran A (1), murranolide A (2), murranopyrone (3a), and murranoic acid A (4a), along with six known metabolites, N-(2-hydroxy-6-methoxyphenyl)acetamide (5), curvularin (6), (S)-dehydrocurvularin (7), pyrenolide A (8), modiolide A (9), and 8-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3-methylisocoumarin (10). The structures of the known compounds were confirmed by comparing ESI HR mass spectra, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and optical rotation data with values reported in the literature. The planar structures of the new compounds were elucidated by extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR and mass data. The absolute configurations of the new compounds were established by coupling constant analysis, modified Mosher's method, and CD data. Compound 8 showed a strong motility impairing activity against Phytophthora capsici zoospores at a low concentration (100% at 0.5 μg/mL) in a short time (30 min). Compounds 2, 3a, 6, 7, 9, and 10 exhibited zoospore motility impairment activity at higher concentrations (IC₅₀: 50-100 μg/mL).