Physalin Explained

Physalins are steroidal constituents of Physalis plants which possess an unusual 13,14-seco-16,24-cyclo-steroidal ring skeleton (where the bond that is normally present between the 13 and 14 positions in other steroids is broken while a new bond between positions 16 and 24 is formed; see figure below).^[1] Since the isolation and the structure determination of Physalin A and Physalin B in 1969, more than a dozen Physalins were isolated from Physalis species, Physalis alkekengi, Physalis angulata, and Physalis lancifolia. These compounds have antimicrobial,^{[2] [3]} and antiparasitic effects.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Matsuura T, Kawai M, Makashima R, Butsugan Y . Structures of physalin A and physalin B, 13,14-seco-16,24-cyclo-steroids from Physalis alkekengi var. Francheti . J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 1 . 5 . 5. 664–70 . 1970 . 5461642 . 10.1039/j39700000664.
2. Januário AH, Filho ER, Pietro RC, Kashima S, Sato DN, França SC . Antimycobacterial physalins from Physalis angulata L. (Solanaceae) . Phytother Res . 16 . 5 . 445–8 . 2002 . 12203265 . 10.1002/ptr.939. 20323658 .
3. Silva MT, Simas SM, Batista TG, Cardarelli P, Tomassini TC . Studies on antimicrobial activity, in vitro, of Physalis angulata L. (Solanaceae) fraction and physalin B bringing out the importance of assay determination . Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz . 100 . 7 . 779–82 . 2005 . 16410969 . 10.1590/S0074-02762005000700018. free . 1807/8334 . free .
4. Choudhary MI, Yousaf S, Ahmed S, Yasmeen K . Antileishmanial physalins from Physalis minima . Chemistry & Biodiversity . 2 . 9 . 1164–73 . 2005 . 17193198 . 10.1002/cbdv.200590086. 20648658 .