# A Novel Bis-Spiroketal Scaffold and Other Secondary Metabolites from the Marine-Derived Fungus Talaromyces stipitatus HF05001: Structural Diversity and Bioactivities

## TL;DR

A marine fungus produces new chemical compounds with potential to treat inflammation and metabolic disorders.

## Contribution

Discovery of a novel bis-spiroketal scaffold and other bioactive secondary metabolites from a marine-derived fungus.

## Key findings

- Twenty compounds were isolated, including a new marine ketal natural product (Talarobispiral A).
- Three compounds showed significant anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing nitric oxide production.
- Compound 4 strongly inhibited lipid droplet accumulation in preadipocytes.

## Abstract

Marine-derived fungi have become a vital resource for the discovery of novel secondary metabolites with diverse structures and significant biological activities. This study focuses on a systematic chemical investigation of the sponge-associated fungus Talaromyces stipitatus HF05001, leading to the isolation and identification of 20 compounds, including one new marine ketal natural product (Compound 17, Talarobispiral A). These compounds were structurally elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS. All isolates were screened for their anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenic properties. Among them, compound 4 (Secalonic acid D, SAD), 7 (Sch 725680) and 16 (bacillisporins C) demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory potential by markedly suppressing nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Notably, compound 4 showed superior inhibitory effect, with an IC50 value of 0.22 μM. Additionally, compound 4 exhibited the strongest dose-dependent inhibition of lipid droplet accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. These findings highlight the dual therapeutic potential of metabolites from Talaromyces stipitatus, identifying promising lead compounds for the development of novel treatments for inflammatory and metabolic disorders.