Antifungal, Antibacterial, Phytotoxic and Cytotoxic Potential of Casticin Isolated from Vitex agnus-castus

摘要

The secondary metabolite, casticin (1) was isolated from a medicinal plant, Vitex agnus-castus, which is widely used in traditional medicines against various diseases. The structure of the compound 1 was identified with the help of modern spectroscopic techniques. The compound 1 was screened for its antifungal, antibacterial, phytotoxic and cytotoxic activities. Casticin (1) was found to have moderate antifungal activity against Trichophyton schoenleinii, Aspergillus niger, Trichophyton simii and Fusarium oxysporum var. lycopersici (tomato) whereas no antibacterial and phytotoxic activities were found against the tested bacteria and Lemna aequinoctialis welv, respectively. Preliminary cytotoxicity tests were done with the casticin (1) using the larvae of the brine shrimp, Artemia salina. Compound 1 however found to be relatively non-toxic.