title: In vitro antifungal activity of naphthoquinone derivatives.
abstract: In vitro antifungal activities of naphtoquinone-derivatives, which are constituents of Shikon, roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, were investigated against several fungal pathogens. When the biological activity of these compounds was tested against fungi, a wide range of sensitivity was recorded. Shikonin was found to have a stronger than fluconazole against yeast-like fungi: four-fold against Candida krusei (minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC); 4 microg/ml) and two-fold (MIC; 4 microg/ml) against Saccharomyces cerevisiae, though it showed the same potency as fluconazole against C. glabrata. Deoxyshikonin also exhibited four-fold stronger activity against C. krusei (MIC; 4 microg/mi) and three-fold (MIC; 2 microg/ml) stronger against S. cerevisiae. Acetylshikonin and beta-hydroxyisovaleryl shikonin showed lower activities against all fungal pathogens except for C. krusei compared with the standard. Against the filamentous fungus, Trichosporon cutaneum, all naphthoquinones were found to have a range of activity with lower potency than standard. This result provides a rational basis for the clinical use of shikon and shows the possibility of its use in medicinal treatment as an anti-inflammatory agent with antifungal activity.
authors.affiliation: Tohoku Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Japan. kenrs@tohoku-pharm.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kenroh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Hidetomo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Fumihiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yoshizaki
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D029684:Lithospermum / Q000737:chemistry*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009285:Naphthoquinones; D010936:Plant Extracts