Polygodial, the fungitoxic component from the Brazilian medicinal plant Polygonum punctatum.
Polygonum punctatum (Polygonaceae) is an herb known in some regions of Brazil as "erva-de-bicho" and is used to treat intestinal disorders. The dichloromethane extract of the aerial parts of this plant showed strong activity in a bioautographic assay with the fungus Cladosporium sphaerospermum. The bioassay-guided chemical fractionation of this extract afforded the sesquiterpene dialdehyde polygodial as the active constituent. The presence of this compound with antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperalgesic properties in "erva-de-bicho" may account for the effects attributed by folk medicine to this plant species.
de Almeida Alves
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Laboratório de Química de Produtos Naturais, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-Fiocruz, 30190-002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
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D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001938:Brazil; D002963:Cladosporium / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D028502:Polygonum / Q000737:chemistry*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C034380:polygodial