title: Polygodial, the fungitoxic component from the Brazilian medicinal plant Polygonum punctatum.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Química de Produtos Naturais, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-Fiocruz, 30190-002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: de Almeida Alves
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kloos
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Zani
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C034380:polygodial