Aspeterreurone A, a Cytotoxic Dihydrobenzofuran–Phenyl Acrylate Hybrid from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus <i>Aspergillus terreus</i> CC-S06-18

Abstract

A new dihydrobenzofuran-phenyl acrylate hybrid, aspeterreurone A (<b>1</b>), was obtained from the culture of the deep-sea-derived fungus <i>Aspergillus terreus</i> CC-S06-18. The relative configuration of <b>1</b> was elucidated by HSQMBC NMR, calculated NMR chemical shifts coupled with a statistical procedure (DP4+), and the absolute configuration was established by ECD calculations. <b>1</b> exhibited cytotoxicities against the gastric cancer cell lines HGC27, MGC803, BGC823, and AGS, with minimal effects on normal gastric epithelial cell line GES-1. Further studies showed that <b>1</b> inhibited cell cycle progression and induced apoptosis of gastric cancer MGC803 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blot analysis indicated that <b>1</b> inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3, which might contribute to its cytotoxic activity.