The dichloromethane extracts of Tabebuia chrysantha, Oroxylum indicum,
Fernandoa adenophylla and Jacaranda filicifolia display antifungal ac
tivity against dermatophytes and wood rot fungi. The activity is proba
bly due mainly to lapachol and beta-lapachone which were shown to be p
resent in these plant extracts. Microscopical study has shown that the
se extracts inhibit the development of mycelium and conidia in the fil
amentous fungi. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.