Ophiobolin A is a fungal metabolite and a phytotoxin and is an effective and irreversibly inhibitor of calmodulin-activated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (IC50: 9 μM). Ophiobolin A also has antimicrobial and anticancer activity.
Anhydroophiobolin A is an ophiobolin fungal metabolite that has been found in C. heterostrophus fermentation broths. It is cytotoxic to HepG2 and K562 cancer cells (IC50s = 55.7 and 39.5 μM, respectively).
Anhydroepiophiobolin A is a sesterterpenoid fungal metabolite that has been found in B. oryzae. It is cytotoxic to HepG2 and K562 cells (IC50s = 47.1 and 35.6 μM, respectively) as well as A549, SKOV3, SK-MEL-2, XF498, and HCT15 cells (IC50s = 1.6-1.9 μg/ml). Anhydroepiophiobolin A is phytotoxic to S. viridis and D. erucoides in a leaf puncture assay.