Medicinal molds
Encyclopedia
Medicinal molds are molds which were the original source of certain medicines. The most important contribution to medicine by medicinal molds include the first statins and the discovery of penicillin
.
inhibitors, by researching fermentation of the mold Penicillium citrinum. The first statin, he discovered was mevastatin
.
In 1978, Merck Research Laboratories discovered the next statin drug by researching a fermentation product of Aspergillus terreus
. Their discovery was later named lovastatin
.
Pravastatin
was later found researching Aspergillus terreus.http://www.springerlink.com/content/v476711w806vr686/ Using a product of Aspergillus terreus, researchers synthesized simvastatin
.
Red yeast rice is made from cultivating Monascus purpureus
on rice. Red yeast rice is known to contain the statin lovastatin
, which is produced by the growth of Monascus purpureus.
synthesis. Zaragozic acids D and D2 have been isolated from Amauroascus niger.
a beta-lactam antibiotic, was discovered being produced by the mold Penicillium notatum.
Cephalosporins are a class of antibiotics discovered in Acremonium
molds.http://books.google.com/books?id=cvJuLqBxGUcC&pg=PA847#v=onepage&q&f=false
, an immunosuppressant
was discovered researching Tolypocladium inflatum. Mycophenolic acid
is derived from Penicillium stoloniferum.
, are capable of producing paclitaxel
, one of the most important anticancer drugs known. Researchers noted Fusarium solani is capable of producing camptothecin
, a potent cancer inhibitor. Researchers found Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius is capable of producing the anticancer pro-drug deoxypodophyllotoxin. Researchers have found a fungus capable of producing hypericin
, and another capable of producing vinblastine
.
Penicillin
Penicillin is a group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi. They include penicillin G, procaine penicillin, benzathine penicillin, and penicillin V....
.
Statins
Akira Endo first discovered statins, also known as HMG-CoA reductaseHMG-CoA reductase
HMG-CoA reductase is the rate-controlling enzyme of the mevalonate pathway, the metabolic pathway that produces cholesterol and other isoprenoids...
inhibitors, by researching fermentation of the mold Penicillium citrinum. The first statin, he discovered was mevastatin
Mevastatin
Mevastatin, compactin, ML-236B is a hypolipidemic agent that belongs to the statins class.It was isolated from the mold Penicillium citrinum by Akira Endo in the 1970s and he identified it as a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, i.e.; a statin...
.
In 1978, Merck Research Laboratories discovered the next statin drug by researching a fermentation product of Aspergillus terreus
Aspergillus terreus
Aspergillus terreus is a fungus commonly used in industry to produce important organic acids, such as itaconic acid and cis-aconitic acid. It was also the initial source for the drug mevinolin , a drug for lowering serum cholesterol. A. terreus may cause opportunistic infection in people with...
. Their discovery was later named lovastatin
Lovastatin
Lovastatin is a member of the drug class of statins, used for lowering cholesterol in those with hypercholesterolemia and so preventing cardiovascular disease...
.
Pravastatin
Pravastatin
Pravastatin is a member of the drug class of statins, used for lowering cholesterol and preventing cardiovascular disease. Initially known as CS-514, it was originally identified in a bacterium called Nocardia autotrophica by researchers of the Sankyo Pharma Inc....
was later found researching Aspergillus terreus.http://www.springerlink.com/content/v476711w806vr686/ Using a product of Aspergillus terreus, researchers synthesized simvastatin
Simvastatin
Simvastatin is a hypolipidemic drug used to control elevated cholesterol, or hypercholesterolemia. Simvastatin is a member of the statin class of pharmaceuticals, is a synthetic derivate of a fermentation product of Aspergillus terreus.-Medical uses:The primary uses of simvastatin is for the...
.
Red yeast rice is made from cultivating Monascus purpureus
Monascus purpureus
Monascus purpureus is a species of mold that is purplish-red in color...
on rice. Red yeast rice is known to contain the statin lovastatin
Lovastatin
Lovastatin is a member of the drug class of statins, used for lowering cholesterol in those with hypercholesterolemia and so preventing cardiovascular disease...
, which is produced by the growth of Monascus purpureus.
Zaragozic acids
Zaragozic acids like statins, inhibit cholesterolCholesterol
Cholesterol is a complex isoprenoid. Specifically, it is a waxy steroid of fat that is produced in the liver or intestines. It is used to produce hormones and cell membranes and is transported in the blood plasma of all mammals. It is an essential structural component of mammalian cell membranes...
synthesis. Zaragozic acids D and D2 have been isolated from Amauroascus niger.
Antibiotics
PenicillinPenicillin
Penicillin is a group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi. They include penicillin G, procaine penicillin, benzathine penicillin, and penicillin V....
a beta-lactam antibiotic, was discovered being produced by the mold Penicillium notatum.
Cephalosporins are a class of antibiotics discovered in Acremonium
Acremonium
Acremonium is a genus of Fungi in the Hypocreaceae family; it was previously known as "Cephalosporium".-Description:Acremonium species are usually slow growing and are initially compact and moist. Acremonium hyphae are fine and hyaline and produce mostly simple phialides. Their conidia are usually...
molds.http://books.google.com/books?id=cvJuLqBxGUcC&pg=PA847#v=onepage&q&f=false
Immunosuppressants
CiclosporinCiclosporin
Ciclosporin , cyclosporine , cyclosporin , or cyclosporin A is an immunosuppressant drug widely used in post-allogeneic organ transplant to reduce the activity of the immune system, and therefore the risk of organ rejection...
, an immunosuppressant
Immunosuppressant
An immunosuppressant is any substance that performs immunosuppression of the immune system. They may be either exogenous, as immunosuppressive drugs, or endogenous, as ,e. g., testosterone...
was discovered researching Tolypocladium inflatum. Mycophenolic acid
Mycophenolic acid
Mycophenolic acid INN or mycophenolate is an immunosuppressant drug used to prevent rejection in organ transplantation. It inhibits an enzyme needed for the growth of T cells and B cells. It was initially marketed as the prodrug mycophenolate mofetil to improve oral bioavailability. More...
is derived from Penicillium stoloniferum.
Potential as a biological source of pharmaceuticals
Many fungi that associate with TaxusTaxus
Taxus is a genus of yews, small coniferous trees or shrubs in the yew family Taxaceae. They are relatively slow-growing and can be very long-lived, and reach heights of 1-40 m, with trunk diameters of up to 4 m...
, are capable of producing paclitaxel
Paclitaxel
Paclitaxel is a mitotic inhibitor used in cancer chemotherapy. It was discovered in a U.S. National Cancer Institute program at the Research Triangle Institute in 1967 when Monroe E. Wall and Mansukh C. Wani isolated it from the bark of the Pacific yew tree, Taxus brevifolia and named it taxol...
, one of the most important anticancer drugs known. Researchers noted Fusarium solani is capable of producing camptothecin
Camptothecin
Camptothecin is a cytotoxic quinoline alkaloid which inhibits the DNA enzyme topoisomerase I . It was discovered in 1966 by M. E. Wall and M. C. Wani in systematic screening of natural products for anticancer drugs. It was isolated from the bark and stem of Camptotheca acuminata , a tree native to...
, a potent cancer inhibitor. Researchers found Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius is capable of producing the anticancer pro-drug deoxypodophyllotoxin. Researchers have found a fungus capable of producing hypericin
Hypericin
Hypericin is a naphthodianthrone, a red-colored anthraquinone-derivative, which, together with hyperforin, is one of the principal active constituents of Hypericum . Hypericin is believed to act as an antibiotic and non-specific kinase inhibitor...
, and another capable of producing vinblastine
Vinblastine
Vinblastine is an antimicrotubule drug used to treat certain kinds of cancer, including Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, head and neck cancer, and testicular cancer. It is also used to treat Langerhan cell histiocytosis....
.