Efficacy of Bagassa guianensis Aubl. extract against wood decay and human pathogenic fungi

Abstract

Extractives that provide natural resistance to Bagassa guianensis Aubl. heartwood were examined. Soil-bed tests showed that the B. guianensis heartwood resistance was significantly reduced after ethyl acetate extraction, whereas methanol and especially water extractions improved the resistance. The ethyl acetate extract was submitted to a bioguided fractionation, and fractions were tested against one wood-destroying fungal strain (Pycnoporus sanguineus) and two human pathogenic fungal strains (Candida glabrata (yeast) and Trichophyton rubrum (filamentous dermatophyte)). Fraction F7, which exhibited the strongest antifungal activity, was subsequently fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Six previously described compounds were isolated. Although the two moracins, 6-O-methyl-moracin N (3) and moracin N (4) were the most active against fungal strains with MIC values between 4 and 16 μg ml -1, the isolated compounds showed less or equivalent antifungal activity than the initial fraction. Possible synergism between compounds 3 and 4 and other secondary metabolites have been hypothesized. Our study demonstrated that this extract as a whole might be used as a wood preservation or antimycotic product. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.