Antimicrobial Activity of Quinone Derivatives fromEchium lycopsisCallus Cultures

Abstract
Two specific metabolites, echinone and echinofuran, isolated from the callus cultures of Echium lycopsis L. were found to inhibit the growth of gram-positive bacteria. Especially, echinone showed an antibacterial activity that is even stronger than that of the biogenetically related compounds such as shikonin and alkannin.