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Antimicrobial activity of
Piper arboreum and Piper tuberculatum (Piperaceae)
against opportunistic yeasts
Luis Octávio Regasini1*, Fernando Cotinguiba1,
Andreia de Araújo Morandim1, Massuo Jorge Kato2,
Liliana Scorzoni3, Maria José Mendes-Giannini3,
Vanderlan da Silva Bolzani1 and Maysa
Furlan1
1Department
of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo
State University (UNESP), Araraquara, Brazil.
2Department
of Fundamental Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo
University (USP), São Paulo, Brazil.
3Department
of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of
Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP),
Araraquara, Brazil.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
regasini@iq.unesp.br.
Tel.: +55-16-3301-6660.
Fax: +55-16-3322-7932.
Accepted 15
April, 2009 |
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In the scope of our ongoing research on bioactive agents from
natural sources, 24 extracts and fractions obtained from
Piper arboreum Aub. and Piper tuberculatum Jacq.
(Piperaceae) were screened for antifungal activity by using
broth microdilution method. The current investigation
reveals that P. arboreum extracts and fractions were
more effective against Candida krusei and Candida
parapsilosis than Cryptococcus neoformans. The
growth of Candida albicans was weakly affected by all
the tested extracts and fractions. The strongest effects
were observed for hexane and ethyl acetate fractions from
leaves of P. arboreum, with MIC values (in
µg/ml) of 15.6 and 31.2 µg/ml against C. krusei,
respectively. Additionally, phytochemical investigation of
the hexane fraction of P. arboreum leaves
furnished 3 pyrrolidine amides; piperyline,
4,5-dihydropiperyline and tetrahydropiperyline, which could
be responsible, at least in part for the observed antifungal
activity. The most active compound, tetrahydropiperyline,
displayed MIC values of 15.6 µg/ml against C.
krusei, C. parapsilosis and C.
neoformans.
Key
words:
Antifungal, antimicrobial, Piper arboreum, Piper
tuberculatum, Piperaceae, Candida,
Cryptococcus neoformans. |
