Vibralactones are a group of related

terpenoid The terpenoids, also known as isoprenoids, are a class of naturally occurring organic compound, organic chemicals derived from the 5-carbon compound isoprene and its derivatives called terpenes, diterpenes, etc. While sometimes used interchangeabl ...

chemical compound A chemical compound is a chemical substance composed of many identical molecules (or molecular entities) containing atoms from more than one chemical element held together by chemical bonds. A molecule consisting of atoms of only one element ...

s, the first of which were isolated from the

Basidiomycete Basidiomycota () is one of two large divisions that, together with the Ascomycota, constitute the subkingdom Dikarya (often referred to as the "higher fungi") within the kingdom Fungi. Members are known as basidiomycetes. More specifically, Basid ...

'' Boreostereum vibrans'' in 2006. Additional vibralactones have also been isolated from the fungus ''

Stereum hirsutum ''Stereum hirsutum'', commonly known as the false turkey tail, hairy stereum, or hairy curtain crust, is a species of fungus and a plant pathogen that infects coniferous and deciduous trees. Description The fuzzy orangish fruiting bodies typical ...

''. Vibralactone A has attracted research interest because it is an inhibitor of

pancreatic lipase Pancreatic lipases () are a protein family, family of lipolytic enzymes that hydrolyse ester linkages of triglycerides. Lipases are widely distributed in animals, plants and prokaryotes. At least three tissue-specific isozymes exist in higher ...

(IC₅₀ 0.4 μg/mL) with ''

in vitro ''In vitro'' (meaning ''in glass'', or ''in the glass'') Research, studies are performed with Cell (biology), cells or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called "test-tube experiments", these studies in ...

'' activity comparable to that of the obesity drug

orlistat Orlistat, sold under the brand name Xenical among others, is a medication used to treat obesity. Its primary function is preventing the absorption of fats from the human diet by acting as a lipase inhibitor, thereby reducing caloric intake. It ...

. Several laboratory syntheses of vibralactone A have been developed.

Chemical structures

References

{{reflist Terpenes and terpenoids