In vitro antifungal and cytotoxic activity of triterpene saponosides and quinoid pigments from Lysimachia vulgaris L

Lysimachia vulgaris L. (Primulaceae) has been used in the folk medicine of Europe and Asia in the treatment of fever, ulcers, diarrhoea and as an analgesic and antiinflammatory agent. From the underground parts of the plant a benzoquinone pigment and triterpene saponosides were isolated. Cytotoxic and antifungal activity of these compounds were tested in vitro against human and mouse melanoma cells and the yeast Candida albicans respectively. The results showed that saponoside B exerted cytotoxicity especially towards human melanoma cells. The pigment was more active as an antifungal agent. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.