Wood Metabolites of Myrcia insularis Gardner (Myrtaceae) have Potential Anti-Candida Activity

Abstract

The present work aimed to isolate secondary metabolites from Myrcia insularis Gardner (Myrtaceae) wood and to evaluate the anti-Candida activity and further extracts obtained by partition and the respective main isolated compounds. Wood was collected in a Seasonal Semideciduous Forest remnant of the Atlantic Forest of northern Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Chromatographic and spectrographic techniques were used to isolate and identify secondary metabolites. Methanol extract inhibited the growth of Candida buinensis and Candida tropicalis, with inhibition being approximately 82% for the latter. The main compound isolated from the ethyl acetate partitions was arjunolic acid, a triterpene. The antimicrobial activity was first observed with the wood metabolites of M. insularis adds to our understanding of the antifungal properties of this species and other species within the Myrtaceae family, including the presence of arjunolic acid, which may play a role in this activity.

Keywords:
Atlantic Forest; phytochemistry; triterpene; antifungal activity; arjunolic acid