Genome Biology Lab, Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (Central University), New Delhi, India.
Pharm Biol. 2011 Jul;49(7):727-33. doi: 10.3109/13880209.2010.544318. Epub 2011 May 18.
Cassia fistula Linn. (Caesalpiniaceae) has been used in folk medicine. Anthraquinone derivative rhein having antimicrobial properties is actively present in C. fistula fruit. Although, as yet there has been no study of its anticandidal potential.
The present study was conducted to determine the phytochemical composition of fruit pulp and seed extract and their effect on Candida albicans ATCC 10261, Candida glabrata ATCC 90030 and Candida tropicalis ATCC 750, respectively.
The fruit pulp and seed extracts were tested for phytochemicals by various standard methods and rhein was identified by thin-layer chromatography. The anticandidal activity was determined by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), growth curve studies, cytotoxicity and ergosterol estimation assay.
The fruit pulp and seed extracts showed high content of phenolic compounds. Rhein was identified in both extracts, Rf 0.38. MICs of seed extract obtained with C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. glabrata is 350, 300 and 300 μg/ml. However, for fruit pulp extract, these values significantly reduced to 150, 250 and 100 μg/ml, respectively. Comparative MIC values for fluconazole were 16, 16 and 04 µg/ml. At MICs, pulp reduced ergosterol content in cell membrane of C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. glabrata by 54.42, 48.78 and 68.0%, seed extract by 38.11, 47.0 and 45.0%, whereas, fluconazole showed 93.56, 89.21 and 98.0%, respectively.
C. fistula fruit pulp and seed extract possessed anticandidal activity. The result was significantly correlated between the MICs, cytotoxicity and ergosterol inhibition. It was concluded that the crude extract is a promising source for anticandidal compounds.
木奶果（苏木科）在民间医学中被使用。具有抗菌特性的蒽醌衍生物大黄酸在木奶果果实中大量存在。然而，迄今为止，还没有研究其抗真菌的潜力。
本研究旨在确定果肉和种子提取物的植物化学成分及其对白色念珠菌 ATCC 10261、近平滑念珠菌 ATCC 90030 和热带念珠菌 ATCC 750 的影响。
采用各种标准方法对果肉和种子提取物进行植物化学成分检测，并通过薄层色谱法鉴定大黄酸。通过最低抑菌浓度（MIC）、生长曲线研究、细胞毒性和麦角固醇测定试验来评估抗真菌活性。
果肉和种子提取物均显示出高含量的酚类化合物。在两种提取物中均鉴定出了大黄酸，Rf 值为 0.38。种子提取物对白色念珠菌、热带念珠菌和近平滑念珠菌的 MIC 值分别为 350、300 和 300μg/ml。然而，对于果肉提取物，这些值分别显著降低至 150、250 和 100μg/ml。氟康唑的比较 MIC 值分别为 16、16 和 04μg/ml。在 MIC 时，果肉提取物使白色念珠菌、热带念珠菌和近平滑念珠菌细胞膜中的麦角固醇含量分别降低了 54.42%、48.78%和 68.0%，种子提取物分别降低了 38.11%、47.0%和 45.0%，而氟康唑分别降低了 93.56%、89.21%和 98.0%。
木奶果的果肉和种子提取物具有抗真菌活性。结果与 MIC 值、细胞毒性和麦角固醇抑制之间具有显著相关性。结论是，该粗提取物是一种很有前途的抗真菌化合物来源。
