Rare merosesquiterpenoids from basidiomycete Craterellus odoratus and their inhibition of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases

Merosesquiterpenids, craterellins A-C (1-3), were isolated from cultures of the basidiomycete Craterellus odoratus together with the previously known massarinolin C (4). Compounds 1-3 possess a rare, epoxymethylenecyclohexanetriol-bicyclofarnesane sesquiterpene hybrid skeleton. Compounds 1-4 were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases.