Dihydrobenzofurans as cannabinoid receptor ligands from Cordyceps annullata, an entomopathogenic fungus cultivated in the presence of an HDAC inhibitor

The secondary metabolite production of Cordyceps annullata, an entomopathogenic fungus, was clearly enhanced by the addition of suberoyl bis-hydroxamic acid (SBHA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, to the culture medium. Four new 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans, annullatins A-D (1-4), and a new aromatic polyketide, annullatin E (5) were isolated from the culture medium, and the structures, including the absolute stereochemistries, were determined by spectroscopic analysis, vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), and chemical transformations. Annullatin A (1) exhibited potent agonistic activity toward the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. Annullatin B (2) and D (4) displayed CB1 agonistic activity and CB2 inverse agonistic activity.