Cardiovascular activities of metabolites isolated from the deep-sea fungus Emericellopsis maritima

Nine known secondary metabolites were isolated from the deep-sea fungus Emericellopsis maritima Y39-2 via chromatographic methods, and their structures were identified by one-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (1D NMR) data, mass spectrometric (MS) data, and literature comparison. Zebrafish-based bioassays for intersegmental vessel (ISV) angiogenesis and antiarrhythmic activity revealed 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (HPA) as the most potent cardiovascular protector. At the same dosage, HPA significantly restored zebrafish heart rate, intact vessel number (p < 0.01) to the model group, both values were close to those of the normal group. HPA improved vascular development in a concentration-dependent manner and significantly reduced cardiac dilation and venous congestion relative to the model group (p < 0.01); the reduction was comparable in magnitude to that of the digoxin positive control. Its moderate- and high-dose treatments significantly restored heart rate relative to the model group (p < 0.05). Combined with its antithrombotic property, HPA possesses broad cardiovascular protective potential.