Abstract
Six phenolic compounds (talaroflavone (1), alternarienoic acid (2), altenuene (3), altenusin (4), alternariol (5), and alternariol-5-
O
-methyl ether (6)) were isolated from the solid rice culture media of
Alternaria
sp., an endophyte isolated from the fresh leaves of three desert plants,
Lycium schweinfurthii
Dammer (Solanaceae),
Pancratium maritimum
L. (Amaryllidaceae) and
Cynanchum acutum
L. (Apocynaceae). Compounds 2, 3, and 4 exhibited potent α-glucosidase and lipase inhibitory activities suggesting that they might act as naturally occurring anti-diabetic candidates. The same compounds showed potent binding in the active site for both enzymes with desirable pharmacokinetic properties. The isolated bioactive compounds were not exclusive to a certain host plant which reveals the dominant ecological standpoints for consequent optimization. This could lead to a cost-effective and reproducible yield applicable to commercial scale-up.