title: Antifungal activity of saponin-rich extracts of Phytolacca dioica and of the sapogenins obtained through hydrolysis.
abstract: A saponin-rich extract of Phytolacca dioica L. berries, its acid hydrolysate, and its major aglycone, phytolaccagenin, were assayed for antifungal activity against ATCC standard cultures of Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, and against clinical isolates of these fungi. The activity of the extract was either low or negligible, but the hydrolysate, containing the sapogenins, including phytolaccagenin, and also pure phytolaccagenin, showed promising antifungal potency. Hydrolysis of a natural product extract is shown to be a useful modification leading to improved bioactivity.
authors.affiliation: Farmacognosia, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, Rosario 2000, Argentina.
authors.forename: Melina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Liberto
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Svetaz
authors.forename: Ricardo L E
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Furlán
authors.forename: Susana A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Zacchino
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delporte
authors.forename: Marco A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Novoa
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asencio
authors.forename: Bruce K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Cassels
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000187:drug effects; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D029603:Phytolacca / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012502:Sapogenins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012503:Saponins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012502:Sapogenins; D012503:Saponins