Production of rubratoxin B by Penicillium purpurogenum Stoll

Culture filtrates and chloroform extracts from Penicillium purpurogenum isolated from foodstuffs were subjected to preliminary survey for toxic effects on HeLa cells and mice. The toxic metabolite was isolated in a crystalline form from P. purpurogenum and was identified as rubratoxin B. Pathological findings observed in HeLa cells and mice treated with the metabolite are briefly described.