Inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth by saringosterol from Lessonia nigrescens.
Wächter GA, Franzblau SG, Montenegro G, Hoffmann JJ, Maiese WM, Timmermann BN.
Assay-guided fractionation of an antitubercular extract obtained from Lessonia nigrescens yielded the phytosterol saringosterol as its active component. No appreciable toxicity against Vero cells was observed for this compound. Saringosterol was also synthesized by oxidation of fucosterol. The MIC values for antitubercular activity of saringosterol and its 24S and 24R epimers were determined as 0.25, 1, and 0.125 microg/mL.