Antimicrobial, antiproliferative, cytotoxic, and tau inhibitory activity of rubellins and caeruleoramularin produced by the phytopathogenic fungus Ramularia collo-cygni.

Photodynamically active anthraquinone derivatives produced by the phytopathogenic fungus Ramularia collo-cygni are known to cause a barley leaf-spot disease, but data about light-dependent and independent bioactivity have been sparse to date. We therefore conducted for the first time a broad bioactivity profiling of rubellins B, C, D, and E and caeruleoramularin. Antibacterial but not antiviral activity is reported with light-dependent increase. Furthermore, when tested without illumination, compounds exerted antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity in a series of human tumor cell lines. Inhibition of tau protein assembly was observed as well.