A new cytotoxic dimeric naphthopyrone, aurasperone H (1), together with eight related known polyketides (2-9) was isolated from a marine-derived fungus Aspergillus niger 2HL-M-8. The structure of new compound 1 was elucidated on the basis of its spectroscopic data (1D, 2D NMR and CD). Compound 1 exhibited moderate inhibitory activity against the human lung adenocarcinoma A549 and the human leukaemia HL-60 cell lines. Compound 5 displayed significant in vitro antiproliferative activity against HL-60 cell line with an IC50 value of 0.8 μM.
Keywords: Aspergillus niger; antiproliferative activity; dimeric naphthopyrones.