Isolation and characterization of fusaproliferin, a new toxic metabolite from Fusarium proliferatum

A new toxic sesterterpene, named fusaproliferin, was purified from corn kernel cultures (120 mg/kg dry culture) of a strain of Fusarium proliferatum isolated from corn ear rot in northern Italy. The strain, designated ITEM-1 494, also produced fumonisin B-1 (1,500 mg/kg dry culture) and beauvericin (90 mg/kg dry culture), but not moniliformin. To monitor toxicity, the brine shrimp assay was used throughout the isolation procedure. Fusaproliferin had a molecular formula of C-27H-40O-5, and it is the first sesterterpene isolated from a Fusarium species.