Paxisterol, a new analgesic sterol without anti-inflammation activity from Penicillium.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a medium without supplement of ergosterol. We now have isolated a new sterol from a culture broth of a Penicillium and found that this new sterol, named paxisterol, has analgesic activity in the mouse AcOH writhing assay1}. In contrast to corticosteroid, paxisterol does not have antiinflammatory activity. These results suggest that paxisterol is a new class of analgesic sterol and is of interest to use in modifying pain which has been difficult to relieve. Wehave isolated a new fungal steroid from a fermentation broth of a Penicillium KAC1843. Strain KAC1843 was isolated from fallen leaves of a Saghalien spruce growing in OnumaPark, Hokkaido, Japan, and has been identified as Penicillium paxilli. Fermentation was carried out at 25°C for 5 days under aeration and agitation in a 30-liter jar fermentor containing 1 8 liters of a culture medium consisting of sucrose 5%, corn steep liquor 2%, KH2PO4 0.05%, MgSO4-7H2O 0.05%, CaCO3 0.5%, pH 7.0.