A heterocyclic oxime from a fungus with anti-juvenile hormone activity

Two fractions obtained after chromatography of dichloromethane extract of Penicillium brevicompactum culture medium showed anti-juvenile hormone activity. One was active when assayed in vivo against Oncopeltus fasciatus third-instar nymphs, whereas the other showed a strong in vitro inhibition of JH III biosynthesis on Locusta migratoria corpora allata. A subfraction of the latter, constituting 97% of this fraction, is a main component that possessed the juvenile hormone biosynthesis inhibitory activity. Chemical characterization of this compound shows a sesquiterpene-like structure, molecular mass of 278.16185 daltons, corresponding to an empirical formula of C15H22N2O3 named brevioxime. E…