Originally isolated from Pennicillum compactum in 1969, brevianamide A has shown insecticidal activity.  Further studies showed that a minor secondary metabolite, brevianamide B, has an epimeric center at the spiro-indoxyl quaternary center.  Both were found to fluoresce under long-wave ultraviolet radiation.  Furthermore, under irradaton, brevianamide A has been shown to isomerize to brevianamide B.