Synthesis and evaluation of demethoxyviridin derivatives as potential antimicrobials

Abstract

The in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of demethoxyviridin and some synthetic analogues were evaluated by the agar diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the active compounds were also determined by the agar dilution method. Demethoxyviridin (1) showed moderate antibacterial activity against most of the strains tested. 1α- Hydroxydemethoxyviridin (3) showed antibacterial activity and the most potent in vitro antifungal activity with MIC of 20 μg/ml (0.062 mM) against Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. parasiticus, Fusarium solani, F. graminarum, Geotrichum candidum whereas 5′-methylfuro-(4′,3′, 2′-4,5,6)androst-5-ene-3,17-dione (7) exhibited very weak anti-fungal activity against Candida albicans only. © 2005 Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung.