Fungistatic activity of lucerne saponins and digitonin as related to sterols

Assa, Youla A.; Gestetner, B.; Chet, I.; Henis, Y.

doi:10.1016/0024-3205(72)90012-4

Cited by 22 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…As described (Table 8), saponins from Medicago have been assayed in vitro against phytopathogenic species and their activity well established not only against specific pathogens of Medicago, but also against some fungi generally pathogenic to cereals [10,14,28,31,65,[85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95]. A higher antifungal activity was found for the saponins from the roots than from the aerial parts of M. sativa [92,93,95].…”

Section: Saponins From Medicagomentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical and Biological Activity of Triterpene Saponins from Medicago Species

Tava

Avato

2006

Natural Product Communications

115

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Naturally occurring saponins are a large group of triterpene and steroid glycosides characterized by several biological and pharmacological properties. The Medicago genus represents a valuable source of saponins which have been extensively investigated. This review summarizes the chemical features of saponins from Medicago species and their biological activity, with particular attention to their antimicrobial, insecticidal, allelopathic and cytotoxic effects. Influence of saponins on animal metabolism is also reported.

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Section: Saponins From Medicagomentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical and Biological Activity of Triterpene Saponins from Medicago Species

Tava

Avato

2006

Natural Product Communications

115

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“…This bioassay in several modifications is still widely used for saponin evaluation (Jurzysta, 1979). Further investigations into the fungistatic activity of different alfalfa extracts and saponin fractions revealed that, similar to haemolytic activity, antifungal activity is characteristic of medicagenic acid glycosides but not of soyasapogenol ones Assa et al, 1972). However, Scardavi and Elliot (1967) claimed that the sugar chain of the saponin moiety is an important factor in determining its water solubility, an essential condition for biological activity.…”

Section: Fungi Growth Retarding Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Alfalfa saponins — the allelopathic agents

Oleszek¹,

Jurzysta²,

Górski³

1992

Allelopathy

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“…This compound is the glucp derivative of medicagenic acid, the major saponin aglycon occurrng in alfalfa roots (1). Medicagenic acid, its dimethyl esters, and the malto derivative thereof were also effective against plant pathogenic fungi (46).…”

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confidence: 99%

Activity of compound G2 isolated from alfalfa roots in experimental dermatophyte infection

Evron

Guizie

Zehavi

et al. 1990

Antimicrob Agents Chemother

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Compound GZ isolated from alfalfa roots was applied topically to skin lesions of guinea pigs experimentally infected with the dermatophyte Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. granulare. After 12 to 15 applictions, 80% of the infected lesions were cured, as judged by clinical and microbial criteria, compared with 20% of the untreated lesions which healed spontaneously (P < 0.01).Dermatophytes, a closely related group of keratinophilic fungi, cause a wide variety of skin, hair, and nail infections. These fungi have a worldwide distribution and are among the most common infectious agents of humans and animals. They cause both acute inflammatory and chronic noninflammatory types of infection (11). The limited number of available effective antimycotic drugs has stimulated a search for new agents.Compound G2 isolated from alfalfa roots is active in vitro against plant pathogenic fungi (4), medically important yeasts (8, 9), and dermatophytes (2). This compound is the glucp derivative of medicagenic acid, the major saponin aglycon occurrng in alfalfa roots (1). Medicagenic acid, its dimethyl esters, and the malto derivative thereof were also effective against plant pathogenic fungi (46).Compound G2 has a strong affinity for ergosterol, and its fungicidal effect was probably due to increased membrane permeability which caused leakage of ions and small molecules. When sterols were added to the medium, reduced susceptibility of fungi to the drug was observed (M. Levi, I. Polacheck, M. Guizie, U. Zehavi, M. Naim, and R. Evron, submitted for publication).This study describes the topical use of compound G2 for experimental dermatophytosis in the guinea pig, using a model previously shown to simulate human inflammatory fungal infections caused by zoophilic dermatophytes such as Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. granulare and Microsporum canis (11,12, 14). A clinical isolate of T. mentagrophytes var. granulare was used. It was identified by conventional methods (10) and maintained on slants of potato dextrose agar prepared from 20 g of potato infusion (Difco Laboratories), 20 g of dextrose (Difco), and 2.5 g of yeast extract (Difco) containing 50 ,ig of chloramphenicol and 0.5 g of cycloheximide per liter, at pH 5.6. A suspension containing 5 x 107 particles (spores and hyphae) was prepared as previously described (2). Compound G2 was prepared at a concentration of 2.5 mg/ml in a vehicle solution of 0.1% (wt/vol) polyethylene glycol in 2 mM sodium hydroxide, as previously described (9).The backs and flanks of Duncan Hartley female guinea pigs weighing 200 to 300 g were shaven. The exposed skin was lightly abraded with sandpaper to facilitate the adhesion of fungal elements, cleansed with 70%o ethanol, covered with fungal suspension, and occluded. After 3 days, scrapings of * Corresponding author.scales from the infected areas were examined microscopically in 30% KOH and cultured on potato dextrose agar slants. When infection was verified, treatment with compound G2 was started. Compound G2 was applied once daily to the infected le...

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Fungistatic activity of lucerne saponins and digitonin as related to sterols

Cited by 22 publications

References 11 publications

Chemical and Biological Activity of Triterpene Saponins from Medicago Species

Chemical and Biological Activity of Triterpene Saponins from Medicago Species

Alfalfa saponins — the allelopathic agents

Activity of compound G2 isolated from alfalfa roots in experimental dermatophyte infection

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