The Isolation of 5-Hydroxymethylfuran Metabolites from the Broth Extract of Fomitopsis meliae (Agaricomycetes).

This study aimed to identify antibacterial compounds from the broth extract of Fomitopsis meliae (MSUCC009). From small-scale fermentation, the broth extract of F. meliae showed antibacterial activity. Therefore, the fermentation of this fungal strain was scaled up and the broth extract was chemically investigated. Purification of the broth extract led to the isolation of two 5-hydroxymethylfuran metabolites, 5-hydroxymethyl-2- furoic acid methyl ester and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (HMFCA) together with a pyrimidine base, uracil. This is the first isolation report of 5-hydroxymethylfuran derivatives from the genus Fomitopsis. The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) spectroscopic methods, and comparison with previous reports. 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid exhibited antibacterial activity against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus with MIC and MBC values of > 0.25 mg/mL. 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furoic acid methyl ester and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid were also tested against A549 cancer cell lines. These two compounds were inactive in this cytotoxicity assay.