In vitro effects on intestinal bacterium of physalins from Physalis alkekengi var. Francheti

Intestinal probiotic bacterium stimulative activity-guided fractionation of Physalis alkekengi var. Francheti calyces extract resulted in the isolation of four new physalins (1–4). Their structures were elucidated as 5α, 6β-dihydroxy-25, 27-dihydro-7-deoxyphysalin A (1), 5α, 6β-dihydroxyphysalin R (2), 3β-hydroxy-2-hydrophysalin A (3) and 5α-hydroxy-7-dehydro-25, 27-dihydro-7-deoxyneophysalin A (4) by UV, MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Growth curves of Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Escherichia coli for different total physalins extract (TPE) concentrations were tested in vitro. Middle concentrations (0.78 mg/mL–1.56 mg/mL) of TPE promoted the growth of L. delbrueckii, but all inhibited the growth of E. coli, in which the bacteriostatic activity increased while TPE concentration increases. Physalins showed stimulative effects on the growth of probiotic bacteria but inhibitory effects on the growth of pathogenic bacteria.