Antifouling and antibacterial compounds from a marine fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cladosporium</Emphasis> sp. F14

To investigate the antifouling secondary metabolites from marine-derived fungi, we used bioassay-guided column chromatography techniques, such as HPLC, to separate and purify compounds from Cladosporium sp. F14. Extensive spectral analyses including 1D NMR spectra and MS were employed for structure elucidation of the compounds. Antilarval activity of the compounds was evaluated in settlement inhibition assays with laboratory-reared Balanus amphitrite and Bugula neritina larvae, while antibacterial activity was assessed with disc diffusion bioassay on growth inhibition of six marine bacterial species. In total, nine compounds were obtained. Among them, 3-phenyl-2-propenoic acid, cyclo-(Phe-Pro) and cyclo-(Val-Pro) had various antibacterial activities against three fouling bacteria, furthermore, 3-phenyl-2-propenoic acid and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate effectively inhibited larval settlement of B. neritina and B. amphitrite larvae, respectively, indicating that the two compounds are potential natural antifouling agents.