Anti-fungal effects of phenolic amides isolated from the root bark of Lycium chinense.

Four phenolic amides, dihydro-N-caffeoyltyramine (1), trans-N-feruloyloctopamine (2), trans-N -caffeoyltyramine (3), and cis-N-caffeoyltyramine (4), were isolated from an ethyl acetate extract of the root bark of Lycium chinense Miller. All had an anti-fungal effect; compounds 1-3 were potent at 5-10 microg ml(-1) and were without hemolytic activity against human erythrocyte cells. Compound 4 was active at 40 microg ml(-1). All four compounds impeded the dimorphic transition of pathogen, Candida albicans.