Antifungal Properties of Plumbagin

Abstract

Plumbagin is a constitutive metabolite of plants including Plumbago zeylanica L. , ' Plumbago i n d i c~,~ Plumbago europaea (Pl~mbaginaceae)~ and is also found to accumulate a s a secondary stress metabolite. Plumbagin is among several phytoalexins accumula.ted during the incompatible interaction beheen the parasitic Cuscuta reflexa (Convolvulaceae) and t h e host Ancistrocladus heyneanus (Ancistr~cladaceae).~ This leads to the degeneration of haustoria in the invading parasite and eventually its a b~r t i o n .~ Plumbagin was shown to display antibacterial and antifungal proper tie^.'.^.^ I t also causes mortality of Culex fatigans mosquito larvae,I inhibition of nematode larvae8 and exhibits cytotoxic: antiturnour and radiomodifying properties.1° Ethnomedical claims on I? zeylanica are reported from many parts of the world.11J2 The plant is used in many Asian countries to increase digestive powers, promote appetite and treat dyspepsia, piles, anasarca, skin diseases and fever.13 Numerous pharmacological investigations have been carried out on I? zeylanica

Perspectives on medicinal properties of plumbagin and its analogs

“…Due to its C-5 hydroxyl group, plumbagin is capable of forming very stable chelates with several trace metals of biological relevance, and such interactions have been thought to be one of the possible mechanisms of its biological activities. 53 Unfortunately, very little attention has been paid to these interactions until recently. In the past, few studies had been Medicinal Research Reviews DOI 10.1002/med reported on the color reactions of plumbagin with iron, nickel, and copper ions.…”

“…Due to its C‐5 hydroxyl group, plumbagin is capable of forming very stable chelates with several trace metals of biological relevance, and such interactions have been thought to be one of the possible mechanisms of its biological activities . Unfortunately, very little attention has been paid to these interactions until recently.…”

Control of crown rot of banana using Carica papaya latex

“…On the other hand Rhizopus sp. has a smaller percentage of chitin in its hyphal wall and the major constituent is chitosan (Adikaram et al, 1995). The species such as Rhizopus may be overcoming the toxicity of papaya latex by utilising constituents of papaya latex as a source of energy for growth much more rapidly prior to any counter action by the enzymes in the latex.…”