Abstract: Methods of inhibiting the Hsp90 chaperone pathway including contacting one or more target cells with an effective amount of a naturally occurring beauvericin, a synthetic beauvericin, or a derivative, analog or prodrug, or a pharmacologically active salt thereof to reduce, decrease, or inhibit the Hsp90 chaperone pathway in the cells compared to a control are disclosed. The methods can reduce the viability of the target cells, for example, by increasing apoptosis or pro-apoptotic pathways. In preferred embodiments, the methods reduce or do not increase Hsp70, Hsp24, Hsp40, or HOP expression; reduce or do not increase the heat shock response; reduce or do not increase pro-survival pathways in the cells. Methods of treating diseases such as cancer, inflammatory diseases or disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and infectious diseases using the disclosed compositions and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to two novel substances, namely (1R,2S,3S,4R)-3-acetoxy-1,2,4,5-tetrahydroxy-7-methoxy-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroanthracene-9,10-dione (3-O-acetyl altersolanol M) and 8-(4,5,6-trihydroxy-7-methyl-2-methoxy-9,10-dioxo-9H,10H-anthracen-1-yl)-(1S,2S,3R,4S)-1,2,3,4,5-pentahydroxy-7-methoxy-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9H,10H-anthracene-9,10-dione (the atropisomers alterporriol I and J) to their use as anti-infectives and as anti-cancer agents, as well as to methods of producing the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of the following anthracene derivatives as anti-infectives, preferably against multiply drug resistant pathogens: (2R,3S,10R)-2,3,5,10-tetrahydroxy-6-methoxy-3-methyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9a-hexahydro-9H,10H-anthracen-9-one (tetrahydroaltersolanol B), (1R,2R,3R,4aS,9aR,10R)-1,2,3,5,10-pentahydroxy-7-methoxy-2-methyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9a-hexahydro-9H,10H-anthracen-9-one (altersolanol K), (2R,3R,4R,4aS,9aS,10R)-2,3,4,8,10-pentahydroxy-6-methoxy-3-methyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9a-hexahydro-9H,10H-anthracen-9-one (altersolanol L), 8-(1,7-dihydroxy-6-methyl-3-methoxy-9,10-dioxo-9H,10H-anthracen-2-yl)-(1S,2S,3R,4S)-1,2,3,4,5-pentahydroxy-7-methoxy-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9H,10H-anthracen-9,10-dione (atropisomers alterporriol G and H); as well as (2R,3S,4aS,9aS,10R)-2,3,5,8,10-pentahydroxy-6-methoxy-3-methyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9a-hexahydro-9H,10H-anthracen-9-one (8-hydroxytetrahydroaltersolanol B).