Passicol, an Antibacterial and Antifungal Agent Produced by Passiflora Plant Species: Preparation and Physicochemical Characteristics

Abstract

An increased yield of the crude material with antibacterial and antifungal activity produced by Passiflora species was obtained by aerated bathing of cut rinds of banana passion fruit in water in rotating cylindrical bottles. The crude material was separated into several fractions by thin-layer chromatography with the use of silica gel and ethyl acetate-chloroform (2: 1). The fractions showing ultraviolet absorption maxima in the vicinity of 340, 358, and 375 to 377 nm were biologically active. The data indicate that the active material, here called "Passicol" for the first time, has characteristics of the polyacetylenic group of compounds. The activity can be preserved for a long time when crude material is stored in organic solvent in the dark at 6 C. Gentle bathing of the cut rinds of Passiflora in water in the presence of air and ethylene stimulated the formation of the active principle.As reported previously by Nicolls (8), the antifungal activity found in Passiflora species is constantly produced when the living tissue is wounded. For further investigation of the biological activity of the active principle produced by Passiflora, and possible physicochemical investigations, it was necessary to produce the active compound in greater quantity and higher concentration than in the initial work.For convenience of description, the name "Passicol" has been given here for the first time to the active substance. 24 hr by removing the diffusate and replacing it with an equal volume of fresh distilled water. The operation was continued for 14 to 16 days. The filtered (cotton gauze) diffusate was acidified with 12 N H2SO4 to a pH of 1 to 1.5 and was extracted with 0.35 volume of ethyl acetate by stirring for 5 to 10 min; it was then separated in a separating funnel and finally centrifuged. The organic extract was dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate and stored in the dark at 6 C. The pooled organic extract was concentrated on a rotating flask evaporator to about 2.5% of the original volume. When stored in the dark at 6 C, the crude concentrate has retained its activity for over 2 years. MATERIALS AND METHODSAs a pilot investigation of the possibility of readily increasing the scale of production, a glass column containing loosely packed cut rinds of P. mollissima was set up, and distilled water was percolated through the rinds at a rate sufficient to keep them bathed in fluid. The emerging fluid (total volume in the same ratio to rind weight was as used for the roller apparatus) was continuously recirculated. The level of activity detected in the resultant extract was satisfactory, but was inferior to the yield from the roller apparatus. Precise conditions for optimal yields by this percolation method were not pursued.Spectrophotometric assay. The ultraviolet (UV) spectrum of the ethyl acetate extract from the diffusate exhibited several maxima, and absorbance in these regions was in direct proportion to the biological activity of the extract. The peak at 375 nm was selected for measuring the activity by spectropho-L05

Chemical composition of essential oils of shells, juice and seeds of Passiflora ligularis Juss from Ecuador

“…Studies have argued that seed extracts of some Passiflora species possess antifungal activity, antioxidant activity (Shanmugam et al, 2013) and antibacterial activity (Patil, 2010). In fact, an active substance called passicol obtained from shell extracts of Passiflora mollissima and Passiflora caerulea was reported by (Birner et al, 1973). Even, aqueous extract of Passiflora ligularis fruit can decrease the blood glucose and reduce the oxidative stress by removing free radicals in diabetes (Palanirajan et al, 2014) Currently there are no studies about the chemical composition of essential oil of granadilla.…”

Cholesterol-dependent hemolytic activity of Passiflora quadrangularis leaves

“…Plants used in traditional folk medicine are a vast source of pharmacologically active components, including hemolysins and cytolysins, potential bactericidal and anticancer drugs (5-7). However, there are few publications about the cytotoxic activity of the family Passifloraceae (8)(9)(10).…”

Passicol, an Antibacterial and Antifungal Agent Produced by Passiflora Plant Species: Qualitative and Quantitative Range of Activity

“…Nearly all extracts of the active compound were obtained from immature fruit rind of P. mollissima by methods previously described (3). The spectrophotometric assay method used here was also described (3).…”

“…The spectrophotometric assay method used here was also described (3). Optical density at 375 nm was a measure of activity of Passicol-containing extracts.…”

“…Birner and Nicolls in an accompanying paper (3) showed that the antimicrobial active principle, now named "Passicol," in P. mollissima fruit rinds had ultraviolet absorption characteristics of the polyacetylenic group of compounds. Formation of the active compound by gentle bathing of living plant pieces in water in the presence of air, extraction by ethyl acetate, concentration, and a spectrophotometric assay method are described in the companion paper.…”