Vol 131 No. 1, June 2002
Page 9-16
0031-7683
Antifungal Compounds from Anarcadium occidentale
Consolacion Y. Ragasaa*, Dodee Borjaa, Raquelle Bassiga and John A. Rideoutb
aChemistry Department, De La Salle University
2401 Taft Avenue, Manila, 1004 Philippines
bSchool of Chemical and Biomedical Sciences
Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland 4702, Australia
corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
The nutshell oil of Anacardium occidentale, commonly known as kasoy afforded mixtures of anacardic acids and cardols in varying degrees of unsaturation. Their structures were elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR and high resolution mass spectrometry. The anacardic acids were identified as 1a (50%), 1b (17%) and 1c (33%), while the cardols were identified as 2a (80%) and 2b (20%). Small amounts (<1%) of mono-, di- and triunsaturated seventeen-carbon side-chain analogues of sample 1, and bilobol, the monounsaturated analog of sample 2, were also observed by mass spectrometry. The mixture of 1a, 1b, and 1c indicated slight activity against E. coli and P. aeruginosa and moderate activity against S. aureus, B. subtilis, C. albicans, T. mentagrophytes and A. niger. The mixture of 2a, and 2b indicated slight activity against P. aeruginosa and C. albicans, moderate activity against B. subtilis and T. mentagrophytes, and high activity against A. niger.
INTRODUCTION
Anacardium occidentale, commonly known as kasoy, is a small tree found throughout the Philippines. It is cultivated for its fruits and kernel of the nuts which are sold commercially. A decoction of the bark and leaves could be used as a herbal astringent to treat toothaches, sore throats and sore gums. The bark doecoction when orally taken could treat extreme diarrhea . . . . read more
