title: Antifungal effect of (+)-pinoresinol isolated from Sambucus williamsii.
abstract: In this study, we investigated the antifungal activity and mechanism of action of (+)-pinoresinol, a biphenolic compound isolated from the herb Sambucus williamsii,used in traditional medicine. (+)-Pinoresinol displays potent antifungal properties without hemolytic effects on human erythrocytes. To understand the antifungal mechanism of (+)-pinoresinol, we conducted fluorescence experiments on the human pathogen Candida albicans. Fluorescence analysis using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) indicated that the (+)-pinoresinol caused damage to the fungal plasma membrane. This result was confirmed by using rhodamine-labeled giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV) experiments. Therefore, the present study indicates that (+)-pinoresinol possesses fungicidal activities and therapeutic potential as an antifungal agent for the treatment of fungal infectious diseases in humans.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, 1370 Sankyuk-dong, Puk-ku, Daegu 702-701, Korea. hwangb1@knu.ac.kr
authors.forename: Bomi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Juneyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Qing-He
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Eun-Rhan
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Dong Gun
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D005663:Furans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D017705:Lignans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D027923:Sambucus / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D005663:Furans; D017705:Lignans; C103298:pinoresinol