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). 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, and antiparasitic effects.
References
- Matsuura T, Kawai M, Makashima R, Butsugan Y (1970). "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. doi:10.1039/j39700000664. PMID 5461642.
- Januário AH, Filho ER, Pietro RC, Kashima S, Sato DN, França SC (2002). "Antimycobacterial physalins from Physalis angulata L. (Solanaceae)". Phytother Res. 16 (5): 445–8. doi:10.1002/ptr.939. PMID 12203265. S2CID 20323658.
- Silva MT, Simas SM, Batista TG, Cardarelli P, Tomassini TC (2005). "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. doi:10.1590/S0074-02762005000700018. hdl:1807/8334. PMID 16410969.
- Choudhary MI, Yousaf S, Ahmed S, Yasmeen K (2005). "Antileishmanial physalins from Physalis minima". Chemistry & Biodiversity. 2 (9): 1164–73. doi:10.1002/cbdv.200590086. PMID 17193198. S2CID 20648658.