Journal of Shandong University (Health Sciences) ›› 2026, Vol. 64 ›› Issue (5): 1-9.doi: 10.6040/j.issn.1671-7554.0.2025.0990

• Featured Topics—Bioactive Natural Products •     Next Articles

Secondary metabolites of the endophytic fungus Aspergillus iizukae RD16 isolated from Cynanchum chinene in the Yellow River Delta

REN Siqi1,2, ZHANG Xiaoqi2,3, LYU Wenyuan1,2, FANG Zhou1,2, QI Shizhou2, MIAO Shuang2, GONG Kaikai2   

  1. 1. Department of Oncology, Binzhou Medical University Hospital;
    2. Medical Research Center, Binzhou Medical University Hospital;
    3. College of Phamacy, Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou 256603, Shandong, China
  • Online:2026-05-13 Published:2026-05-13

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Abstract: Objective To investigate the secondary metabolites and cytotoxic properties of the endophytic fungus Aspergillus iizukae RD16, which was isolated from the plant Cynanchum chinense in the Yellow River Delta. Methods The fermentation products of the Aspergillus iizukae RD16 strain were isolated and purified using silica gel column chromatography, gel filtration chromatography and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography. The structures of the compounds were identified using NMR and mass spectrometry data analysis. The CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of the compounds. Results An endophytic fungus from Cynanchum chinene collected in the Yellow River Delta was identified as A.iizukae RD16. Seven monomeric compounds were isolated and identified in its rice fermentation products: cytochalasin Z17(1), cytochalasin Z16(2), flavichalasine I(3), aspochalasin J(4), isorhodoptiometrin(5), questin(6), and sulochrin(7). Compounds 1-4 belong to the cytochalasins, compounds 5 and 6 are anthraquinones, and compounds 7 is a benzophenone. The cytotoxic effects of all the compounds were tested against five human tumor cell lines using the CCK-8 assay. The results showed that compound 1 exhibited significant inhibitory activity against A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells, with an IC50 value of 2.6 μmol/L. Compound 2 demonstrated potent inhibitory activity against both A549 cells and RKO human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells, with IC50 values of 3.0 μmol/L and 2.8 μmol/L, respectively. Compound 4 exhibited moderate activity against A549 cells, with an IC50 value of 11.3 μmol/L, and an IC50 value of 5.6 μmol/L against RKO cells. Compound 5 displayed strong activity against SW480 cells(IC50 value of 5.8 μmol/L)and moderate activity against A549 cells(IC50 value of 13.4 μmol/L). Compound 6 exhibited IC50 values of 8.5 μmol/L and 3.9 μmol/L against A375 cells and A549 cells, respectively. Conclusion The endophytic fungus Aspergillus iizukae RD16 which is found in the Yellow River Delta produces a variety of secondary metabolites. Among them, Cytochalasins and anthraquinones show potential for the discovery of lead compounds due to their cytotoxic activities.

Key words: Yellow River Delta, Secondary metabolites, Endophytic fungi, Aspergillus iizukae RD16, Cytotoxic activity

CLC Number: 

  • R93
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