ISSN:
1573-0832
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Avstract The moist mycelium ofT. tonsurans was extracted with 3 % w/v sodium hydroxide to yield a purple to violet solution which was passed through a cation-exchange resin column, evaporated partially, dialyzed and lyophilized. The lyophilized powder was extracted using absolute ethanol, acetone and chloroform (Process A) and separately by defatting with petroleum ether and n-hexane followed by chloroform-methanol 2:1 (Process B). Separation was achieved for the extract of Process B on thin layer chromatography using Silica Gel G and butanol-ethanol-water as the solvent system. Ultra-violet and visible spectrophotometric absorption data are reported for the lyophilized extract ofT. tonsurans, hydrolyzates of the lyophilized extract, and for sodium hydroxide extracts ofT. megnini, T. mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, T. tonsurans andT. violaceum. The spectra were similar in all cases. A review of pigment substance in dermatophytes is made, which together with the experimental data secured withT. tonsurans and previous experimentation, suggest the possible effects of drying procedures, contusion, solvents, acidic additives and method of extraction on the removal of pigment from the mycelium of dermatophytes. It is suggested that all the above conditions influence the substances ultimately extracted and that some alteration of a basic pigment association in the organism occurs to release pigment fragments or fractions of varying complexity. Oxidation and polymerization may influence the end result. It is possible that the mechanism presented can account for the number of pigment substances reportedly occurring in the dermatophytes and that a similar pigment structure or complex exists in other Trichophyton species.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02051962
