Antifungal principles of Baccharis pedunculata.

Four compounds including a flavone, an acetylenic lactone, a prenylated coumarin, and a 3-methyl ether flavone were isolated from the dichloromethane leaf extract of Baccharis pedunculata (Mill.) Cabr. (Asteraceae). The latter three compounds were identified to be responsible for the antifungal activity against some human pathogenic and phytopathogenic fungi. The most active compound, lachnophyllum lactone, an acetylenic lactone, showed a very high toxicity (LD50 2 micrograms/ml) against human keratinocytes

3-Farnesyl-2-hydroxybenzoic acid is a new anti-Helicobacter pylori compound from Piper multiplinervium

A new prenylated salicylic acid derivative, 3-farnesyl-2-hydroxy benzoic acid (1), was isolated from the leaves of Piper multiplinervium C. DC. (Piperaceae). It showed anti-Helicobacter pylori activity (MIC 37.5 mu g/ml) and antimicrobial activity at MICs between 2.5 and 5 mu g/ml against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Pseudonionas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Its structure was elucidated by means of MS, H-1 and C-13 NMR. The ethnomedical claim of Piper multiplinervium to treat stomach aches by the Kuna Indians of Panama may be justified by anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of its MeOH extract. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved