Fatty acids and other compounds with nematicidal activity from cultures of Basidiomycetes.

In a screening for nematicidal activities in cultures of Basidiomycetes, cultures of Pleurotus pulmonarius and Hericium coralloides exhibited toxic effects towards the saprophytic nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Subsequently S-coriolic acid (1), linoleic acid (2), p-anisaldehyde (3), p-anisyl alcohol (4), 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,2-propanediol (5), and 2-hydroxy-(4'-methoxy)-propiophenone (6) were isolated from submerged cultures of P. pulmonarius. All compounds showed nematicidal activities towards C. elegans. The most active compounds were 1 and 2 with LD50 values between 5 and 10 ppm. Compounds 1, 4, and 5 have not been previously isolated from higher fungi, 6 is a new natural product. From cultures of H. coralloides, which exhibited both repellant and nematicidal effects, a nematicidal fatty acid mixture was obtained, containing linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid as its main components.