AN ANTIFUNGAL NAPHTHOQUINONE, XANTHONES AND SECOIRIDOIDS FROM SWERTIA-CALYCINA

A chemical and biological screening of 25 species of the Gentianaceae family has been undertaken. Both methanolic and dichloromethane extrac ts of Swertia calycina exhibited a strong antifungal activity against Cladosporium cucumerinum and Candida albicans. The compound responsibl e for this activity has been isolated and identified as 2-methoxy-1,4- naphthoquinone. It is the first naphthoquinone to be described in Gent ianaceae species. LC-UV and LC-TSP-MS analysis of the crude extracts o f Swertia calycina also allowed on-line identification of six known xa nthones and secoiridoids.