Benwamycins A-G, Trialkyl-Substituted Benzene Derivatives from a Soil-Derived Streptomyces

Seven new trialkyl-substituted benzene derivatives named benwamycins A-G (1-7), together with three known congeners, 8-10, were isolated from culture broth of the soil-derived Streptomyces sp. KIB-H1471. Their structures were elucidated by using 1D and 2D NMR analyses in combination with HRESIMS data. The absolute configurations of 1-9 were determined by chemical conversion and comparison of circular dichroism spectra and confirmed for 1 by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Compounds 6 and 7 have a unique γ-pyrone-like ring on one side chain. Compounds 2 and 6 inhibited human T cell proliferation with IC₅₀ values of 14.3 and 12.5 μM, respectively, without obvious cytotoxicity for naïve human T cells. Compounds 3 and 6 could weakly enhance insulin-stimulated glucose uptake.