title: In vitro study of the antibiotic activity of diterpenes.
abstract: The antibiotic activity of 16 diterpenes and of 2 phenanthrene derivatives of diterpene origin, isolated from Brazilian plants was investigated against bacteria, yeasts, dermatophytes and aflatoxin-producing fungi. Eight of the compounds were completely inactive. None showed inhibitory activity against the Gram-negative bacteria assayed or against the Aspergillus species. The phenanthrene derivatives, chemically very similar to phytoalexins isolated from orchids, were especially active.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Giesbrecht
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Davino
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Paula
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D001938:Brazil; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D015003:Yeasts / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D010936:Plant Extracts