Antifungal components from Amazonian long lasting heartwood

About thirty Andira species have been described in America and Africa but most of them are found in Amazonian Rain Forest [1]. In French Guiana and Brazil A. surinamensis, A. coriaceae and A. inermis timbers (all named Saint-Martin Rouge in French) are commercialized for residential construction because of their excellent resistance to decay in ground contact [2]. In this study A. surinamensis heartwood was extracted with solvent of increasing polarities and extracts were evaluated against wood rotting fungi and human pathogens. Ethyl acetate extract proved strongly antifungal, showing that durable heartwood is a promising source of active metabolites for wood treatment and human health applications. Bioguided chemical fractionation allowed us to isolate five isoflavonoids including biochanin A [3].

These substances were described for the first time in this species and displayed submicromolar activities of human pathogenic fungi growth inhibition (dermatophytes and yeasts). Our study demonstrates that evolution selected antifungal phytoalexins may inspire research of new antifungal agents against human infections.

Fig.1

References: 1. Silva et al. (2006) Quim. Nova 29(6): 1184–1186.

2. Detienne et al (1989) Revue Bois et Forêts des Tropiques n°219: 125–143.

3. Dakora et al. (1996) Physiol Mol Plant Pathol 49: 1–20.