Studies on WF-5239, a new potent platelet aggregation inhibitor

WF-5239 was produced by a fungal strain identified as Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius. The substance was purified by solvent extraction followed by chromatography on silica gel and then crystallized (C9H9NO2, mp 142 approximately 145 degrees C). The chemical structure was determined from its physico-chemical properties as N-[2-cis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]formamide. WF-5239 has inhibitory activity against rabbit platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid and collagen, with IC50 values of 1.25 and 5.0 micrograms/ml, respectively. Arachidonic acid induced mortality in mice was reduced by a single intraperitoneal dose of WF-5239 (30 mg/kg). These biological properties have been compared with those of aspirin.