Bioactivity-guided isolation of two sesquiterpenes with potential anti-fungal activity from Citrullus colocynthis L. (Schard)

Abstract

Fungal infection is one of the most frequent and widely distributed skin diseases of human, pets and livestock. Different pharmacological treatments have been recommended, but recently the use of some natural plant products has been emerged since they are safer to human than the chemical antifungal compounds. Phytochemical investigation of aerial parts of C. colocynthis resulted in isolation of two new sesquiterpineMS-6 (Germacr-3-ol-8-en-6,12-oxy-15-oic acid) and MS-2 (5,6-[4,butyl-1,3-dioxino]-7-ene-oxecine) along with several known compounds. The two compounds have shown potent anti-fungal activity evaluated by using of Cup-Plate agar diffusion method. These compounds may provide a chemical moiety for more potent analogues.