BIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITIES OF THE SECONDARY METABOLITES ISOLATED FROM ZIERIA-SMITHII AND ZANTHOXYLUM-ELEPHANTIASIS ON MICROORGANISMS AND BRINE SHRIMPS

Eight secondary metabolites, two isolated from Zieria smithii and six from Zanthoxylum elephantiasis were investigated for their biological (antimicrobial and cytotoxic) activities against 15 pathogenic microor ganisms and on brine shrimps. Canthine-6-one obtained from Z. elephant iasis was shown to have significant antibacterial, antifungal and cyto toxic activities. 6-Methoxydihydrochelerythrine also from the Z. eleph antiasis showed satisfactory antibacterial properties but no effect on brine shrimps. Dipetalolactone, methyl eugenol and 3,4-dimethoxycinna maldehyde were found to have antibacterial activities against a single pathogenic strain. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.