Antifungal Activity of the Saponin Fraction Obtained from Asparagus officinalis L. and Its Active Principle

Abstract

Antifungal activity was detected in the crude saponin fraction obtained from the bottom cut of Asparagus officinalis L. This activity was specific to certain fungi, for example Candida, Cryptococcus, Trichophyton, Microspomm and Epidermophyton. Attempts were made to isolate the active principles from this fraction; in this way a new saponin (AS-1) was isolated, and its structure was estimated to be 3-O-[{β-D-glucopyranosyl(1 →2)}{β-D-xylopyranosyl(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-(25S), 5β-spirostan-3β-ol. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged from 0.5μg/ml to more than 8μg/ml depending upon the nature of the fungi. On the basis of the work carried out here, it is probable that asparagus will contain additional antifungal principles.