Physalis minima

Physalis minima (Solanaceae) [31]. Interestingly, this compound is the 5-O-methyl ether of cochliophilin A (6) which has been isolated from spinach (Spinacia oleracea) roots, where it is a potent attractant for... 

Compounds 13-22 are structurally related to the withaphysalins, isolated from Physalis minima, which have been regarded as intermediates in the formation of the physalins. Recently Tomassini et al. published a review on withanolides isolated from the Physalis genera [21]. 

Similarly, Physalis minima is widely used in folk medicines for the treatment of bronchitis, inflammation, enlargement of spleen, urinary disorders, abdominal troubles, and headache [53, 60]. The roots are used as a vermifuge and febrifuge and for the treatment of diabetes. In Guatemala, the plant is popularly used for the treatment of gonorrhea [61]. The fruits of Physalis minima are said to be an appetizer and have also been recorded as an ingredient of medicinal oU for spleen disorders. The fruits are also considered as a tonic, diuretic, and piugative in different areas of the Punjab, Pakistan [12, 53, 62, 63]. 

A series of ten withanolides, isolated from Physalis minima, were evaluated for their cytotoxic properties against HCT-116 and NCI-H460 cell lines. It was found that withaphysalin C (31) was active against both the cell lines [72]. The stmcture-activity relationship (SAR) studies of the C3dotoxic withanolides from Physalis minima and Physalis angulata indicate that the a,)S-unsaturated ketone moiety in ring A and 5jS-6/i oxirane moiety in ring B are important contributors in the cytotoxicity of withanolides. The absence of these two structural features may result in a loss or reduction of the cytotoxicity of withanohde [4]. 

Glotter E, Kirson I, Abraham A, Subramanian SS, Sethi PD (1975) Steroidal constituents of Physalis minima (Solanaceae). J Chem Soc Perkin Trans I 1370... 

Sinha SC, Ray AB, Oshima Y, Bagchi A, Hikino H (1987) Withaphysalin E, a withanolide of Physalis minima var. indica. Phytochemistry 26 2115-2117... 

Setuiaman V, Sulochana N (1988) The anti-inflammatory activity Physalis minima. Fitoterapia 59 335-336... 

Choudhary MI, Yousuf S, Ahmed S, Yasmeen K, Atta-ur-Rahman (2005) Antileishmanial physalins from Physalis minima. Chem Biodiv 2 1164—1173... 

The berry-like fruit of Physalis minima L. is found in India where it is used in Indian cookery. The seed contains 40% oil with a high linoleic acid content of 61.4% (Rao et al., 1984b). 

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