Biotransformation of a tetrahydrofuran lignan by the endophytic fungus Phomopsis Sp.

the biotrasformation of the tetrahydrofuran lignan, (-)-grandisin, by the endophitic fungus phomopsis sp, obtained from viguiera arenaria, led to the formation of a new compound determined as 3,4-dimethyl-2-(4'-hydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxyphenyl)-5-methoxy-tetrahydrofuran. the metabolite was evaluated against the parasite trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of chagas's disease, and showed a trypanocidal activity (ic50 9.8 μmol l-1) similar to the natural precursor (ic50 3.7 μmol l-1).