Fourteen azaphilone-type polyketides
(1–14), including nine new ones (1–6 and 8–10), were isolated
from cultures of Vitex rotundifolia-associated Penicillium sp. JVF17, and their structures were determined
by spectroscopic analysis together with computational methods and
chemical reactions. Neuroprotective effects of the isolated compounds
were evaluated against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity. Treatment
with compounds 3, 6, 7, and 11–14 increased cell viabilities of hippocampal
neuronal cells damaged by glutamate, with compound 12 being the most potent. Compound 12 markedly decreased
intracellular Ca2+ and nuclear condensation levels. Mechanistically,
molecular markers of apoptosis induced by treatment with glutamate,
i.e., phosphorylation of MAPKs and elevated Bax/Bcl-2 expression ratio,
were significantly lowered by compound 12. The azaphilones
with an isoquinoline core structure were more active than those with
pyranoquinones, but N-substitution decreased the
activity. This study, including the structure–activity relationship,
indicates that the azaphilone scaffold is a promising lead toward
the development of novel neuroprotective agents.