Secondary metabolites from Penicillium chrysogenum WX6 and their chemotaxonomic significance

A strain of Penicillium chrysogenum, isolated from a volcanic area, was subjected to chemical analysis, leading to the isolation of fifteen compounds. Six compounds were isolated for the first time from this species, including the benzophenone derivative 1, pencillixanthone A (5), a pair of trichodimerol derivatives (7, 8), 4-epipenicillone (9), and the small pyrone 14. Several of the compounds were tested for antimicrobial properties; among them, the secalonic acid derivative (5) had significant antibacterial activity against five test strains, while the trichodimerol derivatives (8 and 9) and the anthranilate derivative 15 were reported to be active against four strains (S. aureus, S. mutans, P. fluorescens, M. catarrhalis) for the first time. In addition, this is the first time that haenamindole's antibacterial activity has been reported. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated compounds is discussed.