2-Hydroxy-6- from Aspergillus flavus

In recent years atrochrysone (4) and several other pre-anthraquinones have been isolated from fungi and higher plants (Scheme 2). The parent compound 4 occurs in the toadstools Cortinarius atrovirens and . odoratus (ref. 3). The monomethyl ethers torosachrysone (7) (ref. 4) and asperflavin (8) (ref. 5) are produced by Cassia torosa and Aspergillus flavus, respectively. Torosa-chrysone-8-O-methyl ether (9) has been found in fruitbodies of several toadstools along with its trans-4-hydroxy derivative 10 (ref. 3). Further compounds of this type, e.g. vismione A (11) and B (12), have been isolated from Vismia species (ref. 6). With the only exception of 7, the absolute configuration of these pre-anthraquinones remains unknown. 

While the aflatoxins B and G are major compounds of the fungus Aspergillus flavus, there are also minor aflatoxin constituents from this organism, e.g. hydroxylated derivatives of aflatoxin Bi (1) and B2 (2), the so-called milk-toxins . Ml (5) and M2 (6), which bear a hydroxy group at the junction of the two furan rings 19). They are called mOk toxins , because they are metabolites of aflatoxin Bi (1) and B2 (2), formed when cows get fed with contaminated foodstuffs. The toxins are then contained in the cow s milk. Other aflatoxins have a hydroxy group instead of... 

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