Abstract
Antifungal activity of constituents from the heartwood of
the Malaysian Gmelina arborea against Trametes versicolor
and Fomitopsis palustris was investigated. A sensitive
bioassay system for antifungal activity against
basidiomycetes was developed which uses a medium in
which homogenized hyphae were dispersed. Ethyl acetate-
solubles from the heartwood showed the highest
activity against both fungi, although the activity against
F. palustris was quite weak. Spots exhibiting antifungal
activity against T. versicolor were specified by autobiography
of ethyl acetate-solubles, and five constituents
were isolated and identified as (+)-7′-O-ethyl arboreol,
(+)-paulownin, (+)-gmelinol, (+)-epieudesmin and (−)-β-sitosterol. The four lignans showed antifungal activity,
whereas β-sitosterol did not. From the comparison of
antifungal activity, it was concluded that the piperonyl
nucleus contributed to the activity of lignans. Of the four
lignans isolated, gmelinol appeared to be an important
antifungal constituent, since it was rich in the heartwood
of G. arborea. Furthermore, the synergism by coexistence
of these five compounds was confirmed.
Antifungal assay of Solanum nigrum Linn. fruit, leaves and stems extracts in different solvents
