1. Evaluation of antifungal activity of Piper solmsianum C. DC. var. solmsianum (Piperaceae).
- Author
-
De Campos MP, Cechinel Filho V, Da Silva RZ, Yunes RA, Zacchino S, Juarez S, Bella Cruz RC, and Bella Cruz A
- Subjects
- Antifungal Agents chemistry, Culture Media, Drug Evaluation, Preclinical, Fungi classification, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Molecular Structure, Plant Extracts chemistry, Antifungal Agents pharmacology, Fungi drug effects, Piper chemistry, Plant Extracts pharmacology
- Abstract
We have studied the crude methanolic extract (CME), some fractions (hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate) and four pure compounds: eupomatenoid-3 (1), eupomatenoid-5 (2), conocarpan (3) and orientin (4), from Piper solmsianum, for possible antifungal activity against 12 pathogenic fungi. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined and the experiments showed that the CME exhibited antifungal action against all the dermatophytes tested, with MIC values of between 20 microg/ml to 60 microg/ml. Similar activity also was verified for the hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions. However, the starting material (CME), and all the fractions, did not exert inhibitory effect against hyaline hyphomycetes and were only discretely active against the zigomycetes and yeasts. Compounds 2, 3 and 4 also exhibited pronounced activity against all the dermatophytes tested (MIC< or =1 to 9 microg/ml) with potency as high as the standard antifungal drug (ketoconazole). Compound 3 also exhibited activity against all the yeasts tested. In conclusion, the antifungal activity of P. solmsianum seems to be related mainly to the presence of compounds 2, 3 (neolignans) and 4 (flavonoid), however it was verified that another active compound, as yet unidentified, exists in the plant.
- Published
- 2005
- Full Text
- View/download PDF