Production of luteoskyrin and isolation of a new metabolite, pibasterol, from Penicillium islandicum Sopp.

Production of luteoskyrin, a hepatotoxin synthesized by Penicillium islandicum Sopp., was studied with various fermentation methods. Best results were obtained in static fermentations on glutinous rice at 30 degrees C. The isolated yield of pure luteoskyrin was approximately 400 mg per kg of rice. Also produced were skyrin, islandicin, iridoskyrin, rubroskyrin, chrysophanol, mannitol, and erythritol. A new metabolite, which we call pibasterol, was also isolated.