Antimicrobial Activity of Natural Anthaquinones

Heterophyllaea pustulata (Rubiaceae) a South American genus, is a phototoxic shrub that grows in the Andean mountain range of the northwest of Argentina. Animals that ingest the aerial parts of this plant suffer a typical primary photosensitization reaction, clinically revealed by dermatitis and blindness in severe cases. The chemical investigation of H. pustulata established the presence of several constituents (anthraquinones, flavonoids and iridoids) with an evident predominance of aglicone-9,10-anthraquinones. From leaves and stems soranjidiol, soranjidiol-1-methyl ether, rubiadin, rubiadin-1-methyl ether, damnacanthal, damnacanthol, heterophylline, pustuline and (S) 5,5’-bisoranjidiol were isolated and identified .