Description
Helvolic acid is a well-known fungal metabolite that inhibits protein synthesis through elongation factor G on the bacterial ribosome. It has shown in vitro antitrypanosomal activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei GUTat3.1 with IC50 value of 5.08 µg/mL. Helvolic acid has also been found to be weakly cytotoxic against normal human diploid fibroblasts with IC50 value of >100 µg/mL. Furthermore, Helvolic acid has shown to exhibit strong antibacterial activities against two gram-positive bacteria: B. subtilis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
References
Ganaha M, Yoshii K, Otsuki Y, et al. In vitro antitrypanosomal activity of the secondary metabolites from the mutant strain IU-3 of the insect pathogenic fungus Ophiocordyceps coccidiicola NBRC 100683. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2016;64(7):988-990. PMID: 27373660.
Jayanetti DR, Yue Q, Bills GF, et al. Hypocoprins A-C: new sesquiterpenoids from the coprophilous fungus Hypocopra rostrata. J Nat Prod. 2015 Mar 27;78(3):396-401. PMID: 25549014.
Ratnaweera PB, Williams DE, de Silva ED, et al. Helvolic acid, an antibacterial nortriterpenoid fmor the fungal endophyte, Xylaria sp. of orchid Anoectochilus setaceus endemic to Sri Lanka. Mycology. 2014 Mar;5(1):23-28. PMID: 24772371.
