Bioaspermeroterpenes A–D: Four New Meroterpenoids From the Biotransformation Extract by the Fungus <i>Penicillium herquei</i> GZU‐31‐6

Bioaspermeroterpenes A-D, four new 3,5-dimethylorsellinic acid-derived meroterpenoids were co-isolated from the biotransformation extract of aspermeroterpene F by the fungus Penicillium herquei GZU-31-6. Their structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic methods. In the bioassays, all the isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effect on transforming growth factor-β1-induced activation of hepatic stellate cells. Further studies found that compounds 3 and 4 significantly inhibited the proliferative properties and the expression level of extracellular matrix protein (fibronectin and collagen I) at the concentration of 20 µM.