Antifungal Properties of Solanum Alkaloids

Abstract

The antifungal activities of several solanum alkaloids and their derivatives were examined against a variety of fungal strains such as Candida albicans and Trichophyton spp. Solacongestidine (I) showed the strongest activity (minimum inhibitory concentration) against C. albicans (0.8/μg/ml), T. rubrum (0.4/μg/ml) and Cryptococcus albidus (0.78μg/ml), and also showed lesser activities against a wide range of fungi. Solafloridine (II) and verazine (VII) showed activities against C. albicans (3.1 and 6.2μg/ml, respectively) and T. rubrum (25 and 3.1 μg/ml, respectively), while other alkaloids such as solasodine (III), tomatidine (IV), tomatillidine (V) and solanocapsine (VI) and related compounds (VIII—XIX) showed much lower activities. Solacongestidine also prolonged the survival time of mice infected with C. albicans. © 1987, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.