12,13-Epoxy-delta 9-trichothecenes as the probable mycotoxins responsible for stachybotryotoxicosis

Abstract

Stachybotrys atra cultures grown on oats produced five compounds toxic to brine shrimp; three are the sesquiterpenoid mycotoxins known as 12,13-epoxy-Delta(9)-trichothecenes. One trichothecene is roridin E, a known metabolite of Myrothecium verrucaria. The other two were hydrolyzed to verrucarol, the product of roridin and verrucarin hydrolysis. Spectroscopic data indicate that the two remaining compounds are also 12,13-epoxy-Delta(9)-trichothecenes. These metabolites are probably among those responsible for stachybotryotoxicosis.