Deflectins, new antimicrobial azaphilones from Aspergillus deflectus.

Five structurally related, angular azaphilones, the deflectins, were isolated from the mycelia of Aspergillus deflectus. The structures of all compounds have been established. Besides the inhibitory effects on the growth of bacteria and fungi, these compounds showed lytic activity towards bacteria and erythrocytes and cytotoxic activity towards cells of the ascitic form of Ehrlich carcinoma of mice. The inhibitory effects of the deflectins could be reversed by the addition of serum or serum albumin.