Four new depsidones, mollicellins O–R (compounds 1–4), along with three known compounds 5–7, were isolated from cultures of the fungus Chaetomium sp. Eef-10, an endophyte isolated from Eucalyptus exserta. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by analysis of the 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS spectra. The known compounds were identified by comparison of their spectral data with published values. Compounds 1–7 were evaluated for antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (sensitive and resistant strains), Escherichia coli, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas lachrymans, Ralstonia solanacearum, Xanthomonas vesicatoria and cytotoxic activities against two human cancer cell lines (HepG2 and Hela). Mollicellin H (6) displayed best antibacterial activity, with IC₅₀ values of 5.14 µg/mL against S. aureus ATCC29213 and 6.21 µg/mL against S. aureus N50, MRSA, respectively. Mollicellin O (1) and mollicellin I (7) also exhibited antibacterial activities against S. aureus ATCC29213 and S. aureus N50. Mollicellin G (5) was active against both two human cancer cell lines, with IC₅₀ values of 19.64 and 13.97 µg/mL while compounds 6 and 7 only showed cytotoxic activity against one cell line. In addition, mollicellin O (1) showed antioxidant activity based on DPPH radical scavenging, with an IC₅₀ value of 71.92 µg/mL.

A new p-terphenyl derivative 4″-deoxy-2′-methoxyterphenyllin (1), along with six known p-terphenyl derivatives (2–7), a known flavonoid derivative dechlorochlorflavonin (8) and a known fellutanine A (9), were isolated from the insect-derived strain of the fungus Aspergillus candidus Bdf-2, associated with Blaptica dubia. The structure of 1 was established by the analysis of the 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS spectra. Compounds 1–9 were evaluated for antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC29213, Escherichia coli ATCC25922 and Ralstonia solanacearum, and for antioxidant activities. Synergistic effects of compound 2 with the other compounds were also investigated. As a result, compound 6 displayed the best antibacterial activities in all single compound with MIC value of 32 µg/mL against S. aureus ATCC29213 and R. solanacearum, respectively. However, no antibacterial effect against E. coli ATCC25922 was detected from any single compound. The combination of 2 + 6 exhibited obvious synergistic effect against S. aureus ATCC29213 and the MIC value was 4 µg/mL. Compound 6 also showed the best antioxidant activity as a single compound with an IC₅₀ value of 17.62 µg/mL. Combinations of 5 + 6, 2 + 4 + 5 and 2 + 4 + 5 + 6 displayed synergistic effect and their antioxidant activities were better than that of any single compound.

Highly nutritious traditional plants which are rich in bioactive substances are attracting increasing attention. In this study, the nutritional value, chemical composition, biological activities, and feed indices of different parts of Millettia speciosa were comprehensively evaluated. In terms of its nutritional value, this study demonstrated that the leaves, flowers and seeds of M. speciosa were rich in elements and amino acids; the biological values (BVs) of these ingredients ranged from 85% to 100%, showing the extremely high nutritional value of this plant. GC-MS analysis suggested that the main chemical components of the flower volatile oil were n-hexadecanoic acid (21.73%), tetracosane (19.96%), and pentacosane (5.86%). The antibacterial activities of the flower and seed extracts were significantly stronger than those of the leaves and branches. The leaf extract displayed the strongest antifungal activities (EC₅₀ values: 18.28 ± 0.54 μg/mL for Pseudocryphonectria elaeocarpicola and 568.21 ± 33.60 μg/mL for Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) and were the least toxic to mouse fibroblasts (L929) (IC₅₀ value: 0.71 ± 0.04 mg/mL), while flowers were the most toxic (IC₅₀ value: 0.27 ± 0.03 mg/mL). In addition, the abundance of fiber, protein, mineral elements, and functional metabolite contents indicated the potential applicability of M. speciosa as an animal feed. In conclusion, as a traditional herbal plant used for medicinal and food purposes, M. speciosa shows potential for safe and multifunctional development.

Powdery fruit disease is a notorious disease of Cinnamomum burmannii that causes severe loss in fruit production. Studies on the function of endophytic fungal communities in healthy plant tissues are not new, while little is known about the functional changes of fungal communities in disease-causing plant tissues.