The genus Talaromyces is identified as the sexual state of Penicillium and belongs to the Trichocomaceae family (Chaiyosang et al., 2021). The fungus Talaromyces, which is broadly dispersed in the natural environment (Zhang K. et al., 2022), demonstrates significant potential as a biological resource in food industry, ecology, agriculture, and medicine (Nicoletti et al., 2018; Devi et al., 2020; Prieto et al., 2021; Yadav et al., 2022; Aggarwal et al., 2023; De Eugenio et al., 2023; Xue et al., 2023). To further understand its characteristics, the biosynthetic pathways, biological activity (Chen et al., 2022; Lei et al., 2022; Lv et al., 2023; Nicoletti et al., 2023), and structure–activity relationship (Xie et al., 2022; Zhang M. et al., 2022) in Talaromyces have been extensively probed. These studies have also shown that Talaromyces exhibits numerous beneficial bioactivities and exceptional biosynthetic capabilities, which makes it suitable for wide-ranging industrial applications.

The genus Talaromyces has the capability to produce novel secondary metabolites with potent biological activities (Lei et al., 2022), such as antimicrobial depsidone (talaronin E) (Nicoletti et al., 2023) and polyketide (tanicutone B) (Wang et al., 2023), cytotoxic cytochalasan (talachalasin A) (Ding et al., 2023), dimeric oxaphenalenone aminoglycoside (glyclauxin D) (Samarasekera et al., 2023), antiviral cytochalasan (talachalasin B) (Ding et al., 2023), anti-inflammatory α-pyrone derivative (talarolactones E and F) (Li et al., 2023), phthalides (amestolkins A and B) (Huang et al., 2023), and insecticidal alkaloid (talaroenamine D) (Zang et al., 2015). Therefore, Talaromyces can be used to synthesize novel compounds (Kumari et al., 2018; Lan and Wu, 2020).

As a part of our ongoing investigation to identify secondary metabolites from marine-derived fungus with a novel structure and potent bioactivity (Bai et al., 2019a,b, 2021; Liao et al., 2019), we obtained six new isocoumarins from the fungus Talaromyces flavus TGGP35 (separated from the medicinal mangrove Acanthus ilicifolius) (Cai et al., 2022). With the aim of isolating more compounds with potent bioactivity from T. flavus TGGP35, the solid-state fermentation condition was changed (sea salt was replaced by sodium bromide). During our investigations, we also found that EtOAc extract, a modified fermentation extract from T. flavus TGGP35, showed potent anti-insect activity against newly hatched larvae of Helicoverpa armigera Hubner with IC₅₀ value of 200 μg/mL. We carried out bioassay-guided separation following the isolation of the EtOAc extract and isolated three new lactones (talarotones A–C) (1–3), one new polyketide (talarotide A) (4), two new polyenes (talaroyenes A and B) (5,6), one new meroterpenoid (talaropenoid A) (7), along with 13 known compounds (8–20) (Figure 1), and characterized them. In this paper, we describe the isolation, determination of the structure, and the bioactivities of these compounds.

Compound 1 was obtained as a yellow oil. From the HR-ESI-MS data [m/z 235.0939 [M + Na]⁺ (C₁₁H₁₆O₄Na⁺, calcd. for 235.0941)], its molecular formula was determined as C₁₁H₁₆O₄ (four degrees of unsaturation). The IR spectrum showed the presence of a hydroxyl group (3,534, 3,426 cm⁻¹), an ester group (1,727 cm⁻¹) and an olefine group (1,627, 1,618 cm⁻¹) and compound 1. The ¹H-NMR data (Table 1) revealed three olefinic protons at δ_H [6.98 (dd, J = 12.0, 2.0 Hz), 6.53 (dd, J = 12.0, 2.0 Hz) and 6.37 (dd, J = 15.2, 4.8 Hz)], four oxygenated hydrogen groups at δ_H [5.06 (s), 4.66 (s), 4.03 (dd, J = 5.2, 4.8 Hz), and 3.59 (m)], one methine group at δ_H 3.35 (m), one methylene group at δ_H [4.40 (dd, J = 8.8, 7.6 Hz) and 3.95 (dd, J = 8.8, 2.4 Hz)], two methyl groups at δ_H 1.18 (d, J = 6.8 Hz) and δ_H 0.97 (d, J = 6.4 Hz)]. The ¹³C NMR data (Table 2), combined with DEPT 135° spectrum, displayed 11 carbon resonances, including one ester carbonyl at δ_C (171.2), four olefinic carbons at δ_C (145.6, 134.9, 129.7, and 124.5), two oxygenated methine carbons at δ_C (74.6 and 69.3), one oxygenated methylene carbon at δ_C (72.4), one methine carbon at δ_C (31.5), and two methyl carbons at δ_C (20.0 and 18.2). Using ¹H–¹H COZY correlations of H-3/H-4/H-12, H-6/H-7, and H-8/H-9/H-10/H-11, together with the key HMBC correlations from H-12 to C-3/C-5, H-3/H-6 to C-1, H-6 to C-4, H-8 to C-6, H-9 to C-5, H-11 to C-10/C-9, we established the planar structure of 1 (Figure 2). The relative configuration of the cyclohexanone moiety in 1 was deduced from the coupling constants and nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY). The coupling constant of ³J_{H − 6, H − 7} = 12.0 Hz indicated that H-6 and H-7 have a cis-form of diaxial relationship. The NOESY correlations of H-6 with H-8 and H-8 with H-11 (Figure 3) pointed to the Z configuration of the double bond, with H-8 and H-11 lying on the same side of the molecular structure. The above results also indicated that the configurations of these two double bonds were 6Z, 8Z, respectively. The hydroxy groups at C-9 and C-10 were determined to be oriented at a threo configuration from the coupling constant (J) value of 5.2 Hz between H-9 and H-10 as previously described for asperochratide D and plecmillins G-H (Wang et al., 2016; Zou et al., 2020).

The absolute configurations of C-9 and C-10 in 1 was determined by the in situ dimolybdenum CD method developed by Snatzke and Frelek (Liu et al., 2010; Wang et al., 2013; Dewapriya et al., 2018; Bai et al., 2019c) (Figure 4). According to the empirical rule proposed in the Snatzke's method (Dewapriya et al., 2018), a metal complex having a 1,2-diol moiety and Mo₂(OAc)₄ was generated as an auxiliary chromophore after the addition of Mo₂(OAc)₄ to a DMSO solution of 1. The observation of Cotton effect at ~300 nm in the induced spectrum originates from the chirality of the vic-diol, as exhibited by the O–C–C–O torsion angle in the favored conformation, which led to the assignment of the absolute configuration. A negative Cotton effect observed at 316 nm (Δε = −0.42) in the induced CD spectrum of 1 confirmed the 9R, 10R configurations (Figure 4). To determine the absolute configuration of 1, the theoretical ECD spectra of two possible stereoisomers of 4R, 9R, 10R and 4S, 9R, 10R were created by the TDDFT calculations, and the calculated ECD curve of the isomer 4R, 9R, 10R was found to have a good agreement with the experimental one (Figure 5). Therefore, the absolute configuration of 1 was determined as 4R, 9R, 10R, and compound was named talarotone A.

The HR-ESI-MS data showed that compound 2 also has same molecular formula C₁₁H₁₆O₄ as 1. Analysis of 1D NMR data (Tables 1, 2) and HR-ESI-MS data suggested that 2 has a similar structure as 1 with the same carbon skeleton. A further investigation of 2 by DEPT135°, ¹H-¹H COZY, HMQC, and HMBC spectra established its planar structure, which is similar to 1. The NOESY correlations of H-6/H-8 and H-8/H-11 (Figure 3), combined with the coupling constants of ³J_{H − 6, H − 7} = 11.2 Hz, pointed to the 6Z, 8Z configurations of the two double bonds. The coupling constants of H-8/H-9 (5.2 Hz) suggested that 9,10-diols are oriented at a threo configuration (Wang et al., 2016; Zou et al., 2020). Likewise, the absolute configurations of C-9 and C-10 in 2 were also determined using an in situ dimolybdenum CD method (Dewapriya et al., 2018; Bai et al., 2019a). The positive Cotton effect at 311 nm (Δε = +1.58) confirmed the 9S, 10S configurations for C-9 and C-10 (Figure 4). The absolute configuration at C-4 was determined to be R through TDDFT ECD calculation (Figure 5). Thus, the absolute configuration of 2 was 4R, 9S, 10S, and the compound was named talarotone B.

Compound 3 was isolated as a yellow oil. Using the HR-ESI-MS peak at m/z 197.1181 [M + H]⁺ (C₁₁H₁₇O3+, calcd. for 197.1172), its molecular formula was determined to be C₁₁H₁₆O₃ (four degrees of unsaturation). Its IR spectrum revealed the presence of hydroxyl group (3,475 cm⁻¹), ester group (1,712 cm⁻¹), and olefine group (1,636, 1,618 cm⁻¹). The ¹H and ¹³C NMR data (Tables 1, 2) of 3 suggested the presence of one ester carbonyl group at δ_C 172.1, two olefine groups at (δ_H 6.13, δ_C 118.9; δ_H 6.81, δ_C 138.1; δ_C 129.4; δ_H 7.05, δ_C 147.4), two oxygenated methine groups at (δ_H 3.84, δ_C 67.6; δ_H 5.03, δ_C 77.4), two methylene groups at (δ_H 1.60, δ_C 38.2; δ_H 2.26, δ_C 29.8), and two methyl groups at (δ_H 1.21, δ_C 23.7; δ_H 1.42, δ_C 19.3). The ¹H–¹H COZY correlations showed the fragments of H-1/H-2/H-3/H-4/H-5/H-6 and H-8/H-9/H-11, and on integrating it with the key HMBC correlations from H-1 to C-2/C-3, H-4 to C-2/C-6, H-5 to C-7, H-8 to C-6, H-9 to C-7/8/10/11 (Figure 2), the whole structure of 3 was arrived at. The C-5 and C-6 atoms in 3 were found to be oriented in a trans configuration, which was determined based on a large coupling constant of ³J_{H − 5, H − 6} = 16.4 Hz. The NOESY correlation of H-6 and H-8 indicated a Z configuration of the double bond (Figure 3). Mosher's method was used to determine the absolute configuration of C-2 (Bai et al., 2019a). Unfortunately, because of the excessive humidity in the environment, this reaction was unsuccessful and we did not have enough amount of the compound to perform this reaction again. The absolute configuration on C-9 was determined as S by ECD calculation (Figure 5). Therefore, 3 was identified as talarotone C.

Compound 4 was isolated as a yellow oil, with the molecular formula of C₁₃H₂₀O₃ (four degrees of unsaturation), which was determined from its HR-ESI-MS data. The IR data showed absorption bands at 1,708, 1,638, 1,617 cm⁻¹ indicating the presence of carbonyl group. The ¹H NMR data (Table 1) of 4 revealed two oxygenated methine groups at [δ_H 4.40 (m) and 3.47 (m)], one methine group at δ_H 2.48 (m), one methyl group at δ_H 2.10 (s), seven methylene groups at [δ_H 2.74 (m) and 2.47 (m), δ_H 2.53 (d, J = 3.6 Hz), δ_H 2.38 (t, J = 7.2 Hz), δ_H 2.03 (m) and 1.74 (m), δ_H 1.63 (m) and 1.51 (m), δ_H 1.56 (m), δ_H 1.38 (m)]. The ¹³C NMR data (Table 2) consist of signals for two carbonyl groups at δ_C (210.2 and 209.0), two oxygenated methine groups at δ_C (70.0 and 67.2), one methine group at δ_C 27.9, one methyl group at δ_C 29.9, seven methylene groups at δ_H (47.2, 47.0, 43.5, 37.5, 36.1, 31.6, and 19.6). The ¹H–¹H COZY correlations suggested the presence of a 2-pentane and a butane fragment as H-6/H-5/H-4/H-3/H-2/H-7 and H-8/H-9/H-10/H-11 in 4 (Figure 2). The key HMBC correlations from H-6/H-2 to C-1, H-2/6/7 to C-4, H-2/9 to C-7, H-5 to C-3, H-8 to C-5, H-11 to C-9, H-11/13 to C-12 and H-13 to C-11 led to the confirmation of a planar structure of 4 (Figure 2). The relative configuration of 4 was determined from NOESY and 1D NOE spectra. The irradiation of H-5 resulted in the enhancement of H-3 in the selective 1D NOE spectrum. This observation, combined with the correlations of H-5/H-8 to H-3 in the NOESY spectrum (Figure 3), indicated that H-5, H-8, and H-3 were placed on the same side of the molecule. The absolute configuration of 4 was determined as 3R, 5S, 8R by comparing the experimental and calculated ECD spectra using TDDFT (Figure 5). Based on these findings, the structure of 4 was named talarotide A.

Compound 5 was isolated as a yellow oil and its molecular formula of C₁₁H₁₆O₄ (four degrees of unsaturation) was from determined from its HR-ESI-MS data. The IR spectrum of 5 exhibited absorptions at 3,514, 3,443, 1,711, and 1,618 cm⁻¹, corresponding to the hydroxyl group, ester group, and olefine group, respectively. The ¹H NMR data (Table 1) of 5 exhibited five olefinic protons at δ_H [7.15 (d, J = 8.8 Hz), 6.27 (m), 6.26 (d, J = 8.8 Hz), 6.02 (dd, J = 11.2, 2.0 Hz) and 5.75 (m)], two oxygenated methine groups at δ_H [3.97 (dd, J = 8.8, 5.2 Hz) and 3.55 (m)], two methyl groups at δ_H [1.47 (d, J = 6.8 Hz) and δ_H 0.95 (d, J = 6.4 Hz)]. The ¹³C NMR data (Table 2), combined with the DEPT data, displayed 11 resonances for one carboxyl carbon at δ_C 168.3, six olefinic carbons at δ_C (143.1, 138.2, 128.6, 127.3, 126.5, and 124.2), two oxygenated methine groups at δ_C (74.7 and 69.4), and two methyl groups at δ_C (18.2 and 14.9). The analysis of the COZY correlations revealed the presence of two structural fragments as CH₃(10)-CH(9)-CH(8)-CH(7) and CH(5)-CH(4)-CH(3)-CH(2)-CH₃(1) (Figure 2). The linkages of these two fragments were elucidated by the HMBC correlations of H-1 to C-3, H-3/H-7 to C-5, H-7 to C-9 and H-10 to C-8 (Figure 2). The coupling constant (³J_{H − 2, H − 3} = 11.2 Hz and ³J_{H − 4, H − 5} = 8.8 Hz) indicated that the corresponding protons are positioned on the same side. The NOESY correlations from H-7 to H-5, H-1 to H-4 indicated that the three double bonds have a 2Z, 4Z, 6Z configuration (Figure 3). The coupling constant analysis (³J_{H − 7, 8} = 5.2 Hz) showed that 5 has a threo-8,9-diol configuration. Similar to compounds 1 and 2, the absolute configurations of C-8 and C-9 in 5 were also assigned using an in situ dimolybdenum CD method (Dewapriya et al., 2018; Trang et al., 2022). The induced positive Cotton effect at 316 nm (Δε = +0.69), which indicates the O–C–C–O torsion angle, was consistent with positive helicity, which demonstrated the 8S, 9S configurations for 5 (Figure 4). The compound was named talaroyene A.

Compound 6 was obtained as a yellow oil, with a molecular formula of C₁₁H₁₈O₃ (three degrees of unsaturation) as deduced from HR-ESI-MS data [m/z 197.1181 [M - H]⁻, (C₁₁H₁₇O3-), calcd. for 197.1172]. The hydroxyl group (3,428 cm⁻¹) and olefine group (1,692 and 1,619 cm⁻¹) were observed in the IR spectrum. The ¹H-NMR data (Table 1) showed three olefinic groups at δ_H [6.96 (t, J = 7.2 Hz), 5.99 (d, J = 11.2 Hz) and 5.83 (dd, J = 11.2, 6.8 Hz)], one oxygenated methine group at δ_H 3.53 (m), three methylene groups at δ_H [2.24 (td, J = 15.4, 7.2 Hz), 1.61 (m) and 1.47 (m)], two methyl groups at δ_H [1.55 (d, J = 6.8 Hz) and 0.93 (t, J = 7.2 Hz)]. The ¹³C-NMR data (Table 2) displayed 11 resonances, including one ester carbonyl carbon at δ_C 172.4, four olefinic carbons at δ_C (146.4, 130.4, 128.6, and 122.9), one oxygenated methine carbon at δ_C 72.9, three methylene carbons at δ_C (35.4, 30.3, and 26.3) and two methyl carbons at δ_C (15.2 and 10.0). The ¹H–¹H COZY spectrum of H-1/H-2/H-3 and H-5/H-6/H-7/H-8/H-9/H-10, combined with the key HMBC correlations from H-1 to C-3, H-2 to C-4, H-3 to C-5, H-5 to C-4/C-7/C-11, H-6 to C-4/C-8, H-7 to C-9 and H-10 to C-8, fully supported the structural connection of 6 (Figure 2). These 2D NMR data fully support the structural fragment of 6 containing a 6-hydroxy-2-propenyl-2-octenoic acid. The coupling constant of ³J_{H − 2, H − 3} = 11.2 Hz, combined with the NOESY correlation of H-3 with H-5 (Figure 3), pointed to the (2Z, 4Z) configuration of the double bonds. Mosher's method revealed the absolute configuration of C-8 in 6 was R (Bai et al., 2019a) (Figure 6). Thus, the absolute configuration of 6 was defined as 2Z, 4Z, 8R, and the compound was named talaroyene B.

Compound 7 was isolated as a white powder. Its molecular formula was deduced as C₂₆H₃₂O₇ (11 degrees of unsaturation) from the HR-ESI-MS spectral data. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR data (Table 3) revealed that 7 had a austin meroterpenoid skeleton and also a similar structure to brasilianoid G (Zhang et al., 2019). The obvious differences though were the presence of one methoxyl group at [δ_H 3.57 (s), δ_C 56.3 (CH₃)] and one methyl group at [δ_H 1.62 (s), δ_C 15.8 (CH₃)], and the absence of an aldehyde group at [δ_H 9.44 (s), δ_C 199.9 (C)] in 7. The key HMBC correlations from H-11 to C-9/11-OMe, H-13 to C-5/C-9/C-10 pointed out that the aldehyde group for C-11 in brasilianoid G was replaced by the methoxyl group in 7, and the double bond at [δ_H 5.24 (brs) and 5.74 (brs), δ_C 128.8 (CH₂)] for C-13 in brasilianoid G was replaced by a methyl group in 7. The ¹H–¹H COZY and HMBC spectra established the complete structure of 7 (Figure 2). The ROESY correlations of H-1 with H-9′/11-OMe, H-9′ with H-15, and H-12 with H-14, and H-14 with H-7′, confirmed the relative configuration of 7 (Figure 3). The absolute configuration of 7 was determined as 5R, 8S, 11S, 1′S, 5′R, 6′R by ECD quantum chemical calculations (Figure 5). Thus, the structure of 7 was named talaropenoid A.

On comparing the physical and spectroscopic data with the literature, the 13 known compounds, consisting of 11 meroterpenoids, one lianene, and one alkaloid, were identified as preaustinoid A2 (8) (Geris dos Santos and Rodrigues-Fo, 2003), asperaustin C (9) (Wen et al., 2019), 7-hydroxyde-hydroaustin (10) (Arunpanichlert et al., 2015), dehydroaustin (11) (Hayashi et al., 1994), austin (12) (Hayashi et al., 1994), 11β-acetoxyisoaustinone (13) (Arunpanichlert et al., 2015), furanoaustinol (14) (Park et al., 2018), dehydroaustinol (15) (Marquez-Fernandez et al., 2007), austinolide (16) (Fill et al., 2007), brasilianoid B (17) (Zhang et al., 2018), preaustinoid D (18) (Duan et al., 2016), pinophol D (19) (Luo et al., 2021), and alteamide (20) (Wang et al., 2021).

The plausible biosynthetic pathways for autsin meroterpenoid derivatives 7–18 were proposed (Scheme 1). Austin meroterpenoids were synthesized through the polyisoprene pathway using the precursor farnesyl diphosphate (B) by the alkylation of intermediate 3,5-dimethylthiacyllic acid (A), resulting in the formation of an intermediate (C) (Arunpanichlert et al., 2015). A series of meroterpenoid precursors (D–G) were synthesized based on the intermediate (C), and compound 8 was produced by the hydroxylation of precursor (G). Compound 8 was converted into 9, 13, and 17 and 18 by demethylation, transesterification, and Baeyer–Villiger rearrangement reaction, respectively. Compound 13 serves as the starting point for the formation of 7, 10–12, and 14–16 through Baeyer–Villiger rearrangement, epoxidation, oxidation, dehydroxylation, hydrolysis, and aldol condensation reaction, respectively.

Compounds 5 and 20 were found exhibit a strong antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ values of 0.40 and 1.36 mM, respectively, while the IC₅₀ value of the positive control trolox is 0.29 mM.

Compounds 3, 6, 11, and 16 and 17 showed cytotoxic effects on Hela and A549 human cancer cells, with their IC₅₀ values ranging from 28.89 to 62.23 μM (Table 4). All compounds exhibited no activity against the gastric cancer cell line RKO even at a concentration of 100 μM.

Compounds 7, 10–12, and 14–18 displayed moderate or strong anti-insect activity against newly hatched larvae of H. armigera Hubner, with their IC₅₀ values ranging from 50 to 200 μg/mL (Table 5), while the IC₅₀ value of the positive control azadirachtin is 50 μg/mL. Other compounds showed no growth inhibition activity against newly hatched larvae of H. armigera Hubner even at a concentration of 200 μg/mL.

Structure-activity relationships of antiinsect activity against the newly hatched larvae of H. armigera Hubner with regard to interaction with meroterpenoids has been discussed. The substitution of hydroxyl and acetyl groups and the ether ring moiety on the skeleton of meroterpenoids influences their anti-insect activity. Compound 10, which has a hydroxyl group on C-7, exhibits a better anti-insect activity superior to that of 11, suggesting the hydroxyl group at C-7 contributes to an increased growth inhibition potency. The growth inhibition activity data of 12 and 13 indicates that the central ether ring moiety was a non-essential functional group for anti-insect activity in the structure of meroterpenoids. Compound 15, which has a hydroxyl group on C-13, showed a higher anti-insect activity than compounds 11 and 16, suggesting that 13-OH group enhances anti-insect activity, and the acetylation of 13-OH decreases the anti-insect activity.

The antibacterial activity of all compounds was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Ralstonia solanacearum. Compound 18 displayed a weak antibacterial activity against R. solanacearum even at an MIC value of 50 μg/mL, while the MIC value of the positive control streptomycin is 12.5 μg/mL. Other compounds showed no antibacterial activity against the bacterial species tested even at a concentration of 100 μg/mL.

These results suggest that anstin meroterpenoids are capable of contributing to the development of novel biopesticides such as microbial insecticides and antibiotics.

In summary, 20 secondary metabolites, including six new polyketides (1–6) and one new meroterpenoid (7), and 13 known compounds were isolated from mangrove-derived fungus T. flavus TGGP35. Compounds 5 and 20 demonstrated moderate antioxidant capability, with IC₅₀ values of 0.40 and 1.36 mM, respectively. Compounds 3, 6, 11, and 16 and 17 exhibited weak cytotoxic activity on Hela and A549 human cancer cells, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 28.89 to 62.23 μM. Compounds 7, 10–12, and 14–18 displayed moderate or significant anti-insect activity, with the IC₅₀ values ranging from 50 to 200 μg/mL. Compound 18 showed antimicrobial activity against R. solanacearum, with an MIC value of 50 μg/mL. The biosynthetic pathway and structure–activity relationship with regard to the anti-insect activity of meroterpenoids were explained in detail.

The datasets presented in this study can be found in online repositories. The names of the repository/repositories and accession number(s) can be found in the article/Supplementary material.

Ethical approval was not required for the studies on humans in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements because only commercially available established cell lines were used. Ethical approval was not required for the studies on animals in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements because only commercially available established cell lines were used.

JC: Data curation, Writing – original draft. XZho: Methodology, Writing – original draft. BW: Methodology, Writing – original draft. XZha: Methodology, Writing – original draft. ML: Methodology, Writing – original draft. LH: Methodology, Writing – original draft. RW: Methodology, Writing – original draft. YC: Methodology, Writing – original draft. XL: Methodology, Writing – original draft. YL: Methodology, Writing – original draft. GC: Methodology, Writing – original draft. FC: Validation, Writing – review & editing. GH: Validation, Writing – review & editing. CZ: Validation, Writing – review & editing.