New derivatives of caffeic acid and quinic acid were synthesized and their anti-fungal and inhibitory activities on fungal 1,3-β-glucan synthase were determined in comparison with those of the corresponding chlorogenic acid derivatives. All the chlorogenic, quinic and caffeic acid derivatives that were coupled with an H(2)N-orn-4-(octyloxy) aniline group (1, 1b and 1c) displayed potent activities in both anti-fungal and inhibition of 1,3-glucan synthase assays. Compounds 1 and 1c inhibited the fungal membrane enzyme with the potency comparable to that of a known 1,3-β-D-glucan synthase inhibitor, aculeacin A. The results revealed that the anti-fungal activity of the chlorogenic acid derivative with a free amino group was at least partly due to inhibition of the fungal 1,3-β-glucan synthase. These results suggest that further investigation on caffeic acid derivatives may lead to the discovery of novel anti-fungal agents with drug-like properties.
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