New meroterpenoids and polyketides from the endophytic fungus Paraphaeosphaeria sp. C-XB-J-1 and their anti-inflammatory and SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitory activities

Abstract

Seven new meroterpenoids, paraphaeones A-G (1-7), and two new polyketides, paraphaeones H-I (8-9), along with eight known compounds (10-17), were isolated from the endophytic fungus Paraphaeosphaeria sp. C-XB-J-1. The structures of 1-9 were identified through the analysis of ¹H, ¹³C, and 2D NMR spectra, assisted by HR-ESI-MS data. Compounds 1 and 7 exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in lactate dehydrogenase levels, with IC₅₀ values of 1.78 μM and 1.54 μM, respectively. Moreover, they inhibited the secretion of IL-1β and CASP-1, resulting in a reduction in the activity levels of NLRP3 inflammasomes. Fluorescence microscopy results indicated that compound 7 concentration-dependently attenuated cell pyroptosis. Additionally, compounds 4 and 7 showed potential inhibitory effects on the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 main protease (SARS-CoV-2 M^pro), with IC₅₀ values of 10.8 ± 0.9 μM and 12.9 ± 0.7 μM, respectively.

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory activity; Meroterpenoids; Paraphaeosphaeria sp. C-XB-J-1; Polyketides; SARS-CoV-2 M(pro) inhibitory.