Polygodial

Polygodial is a sesquiterpene isolated from the bark of Drymis winteri (winteraceae) plant that displays antinociceptive properties. In rat brain, polygodial has been shown to inhibit glutamate uptake in cortical, striatal, and hippocampal slices, as well as astrocytes, and increased synaptosomal glutamate release. These effects seem to activate an increase in the extracellular glutamate concentrations, possibly causing neurotoxic effects. In neonatal rat studies, polygodial was found to produce antinociception associated with TRPV1 down-regulation in the spinal cord. Polygodial has also been noted to have antifungal effects on dermatophytes such as E. floccosum. Furthermore, it has been reported that the antifungal properties of polygodial could be due to the uncoupling it causes in mitochondrial ATP synthesis by affecting the electrical properties of the membrane surface and eventually collapsing the membrane potential. Polygodial is an inhibitor of ATP5 and an activator of ANKTM1.