Untitled Document

Polygodial

The obvious presence The obvious presence of aromatic compounds within the foliage, fruit and bark of members of the Winteraceae has prompted several investigations. With the advent of modern techniques many interesting constituents have been identified, but until the nineteen seventies the plant species themselves were regarded as little more than curiosities and no serious attempt at cultivation or use of products of wild plants other than D. winteri seems to have occurred.

Drimys winterii, and its South American compatriots Drimys brasiliensis and Drimys confertifolia have been investigated since the late fifties, and in one survey, leaf extracts of D. winteri showed activity against mouse leukaemia lymphocytes.

The presence of the compound 'polygodial' in extracts of T. lanceolata, was first reported in 1962, and this compound has attracted considerable interest in recent years for its unique biological properties, - antimicrobial and antifungal properties, insect antifeeding and a hot taste for humans and presumably browsing mammals.

Interestingly the compound has powerful piscicidal (fish poisoning) effects and another species – Water Pepper, (which also contains polygodial), has been used by Nepalese fish farmers for removing feral fish in their ponds, since it is rapidly degraded soon after having the desired effect.

Purified extracts of Pseudowintera colorata (New Zealand) were tested for activity against a range of bacteria, fungi and yeast isolates and prevented growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans even at low concentrations. This result has been repeated many times since, including effects with several other fungal species. The synergistic effect of polygodial when used with other antimicrobial agents such as actinomycin B and D and anethole also shows considerable promise.

Similarly, polygodial and a constituent of essential oil of Perilla frutescens - perillaldehyde, exhibit fourfold increases in activity when used together against Salmonella spp. It has been suggested that this last combination - polygodial and perillaldehyde- which might arise from a traditional combination of polygodial-containing Water Pepper and Perilla frutescens together as spicy relishes in the consumption of raw fish in the Japanese Sushimi tradition may indicate an underlying wisdom for preventing Salmonella poisoning in this culinary tradition.

(Contact Diemen Pepper for reference material, if required).

Tasmannia lanceolata Native Pepper leaf and distinctive crimson stems	Tasmannia lanceolata - native or mountain pepper Tasmania's native 'pepper' is an attractive shrub up to 5 metres high with dark green leaves and distinctive crimson young stems. It inhabits cool wet habitats from sea level to alpine regions in Tasmania. The plant is dioecious (separate male and female) and bears black fruit, the size of a pea, containing numerous small seeds. It is a member of the family Winteraceae, one of the group of plants associated with the ancient Gondwanan supercontinent, and members of the family are found on New Caledonia, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands, parts of Indonesia, and from southern Mexico to Cape Horn and the Juan Fernandez group. Many members of the family have been used in traditional medicine in the regions in which they are found. The leathery leaves of Tasmannia lanceolata contain a hot tasting compound (polygodial) which, together with many of the aromatic compounds common in other essential oil bearing plants, results in an unusual fragrant, spicy taste and a 'bushy' rainforest feel. During the nineteenth century and the first half of this century, Tasmannia species were thought to have economic possibilities as a pepper or allspice substitute, and for their resemblance to a rare herbal remedy prepared from a related South American species. The leaves and berries of the plant are now used in Australia to lend a 'wild, natural and spicy' taste to foods of the native food genre, such as emu hamburgers, flavoured breads, pastas and pates, mustards and cheeses and are finding their way into the kitchens of many of the more innovative restaurants.
Tasmannia lanceolata Native Pepper in flower	Polygodial The obvious presence The obvious presence of aromatic compounds within the foliage, fruit and bark of members of the Winteraceae has prompted several investigations. With the advent of modern techniques many interesting constituents have been identified, but until the nineteen seventies the plant species themselves were regarded as little more than curiosities and no serious attempt at cultivation or use of products of wild plants other than D. winteri seems to have occurred. Drimys winterii, and its South American compatriots Drimys brasiliensis and Drimys confertifolia have been investigated since the late fifties, and in one survey, leaf extracts of D. winteri showed activity against mouse leukaemia lymphocytes. The presence of the compound 'polygodial' in extracts of T. lanceolata, was first reported in 1962, and this compound has attracted considerable interest in recent years for its unique biological properties, - antimicrobial and antifungal properties, insect antifeeding and a hot taste for humans and presumably browsing mammals. Interestingly the compound has powerful piscicidal (fish poisoning) effects and another species – Water Pepper, (which also contains polygodial), has been used by Nepalese fish farmers for removing feral fish in their ponds, since it is rapidly degraded soon after having the desired effect. Purified extracts of Pseudowintera colorata (New Zealand) were tested for activity against a range of bacteria, fungi and yeast isolates and prevented growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans even at low concentrations. This result has been repeated many times since, including effects with several other fungal species. The synergistic effect of polygodial when used with other antimicrobial agents such as actinomycin B and D and anethole also shows considerable promise. Similarly, polygodial and a constituent of essential oil of Perilla frutescens - perillaldehyde, exhibit fourfold increases in activity when used together against Salmonella spp. It has been suggested that this last combination - polygodial and perillaldehyde- which might arise from a traditional combination of polygodial-containing Water Pepper and Perilla frutescens together as spicy relishes in the consumption of raw fish in the Japanese Sushimi tradition may indicate an underlying wisdom for preventing Salmonella poisoning in this culinary tradition. (Contact Diemen Pepper for reference material, if required).
Tasmannia lanceolata Native Pepper berries	Winteraceae The genera recognised in the Winteraceae family today are: Exospermum (2 species) and Zygogynum (6spp.)- New Caledonia Psuedowintera (2 spp.)- New Zealand Bubbia (30spp.) New Guinea, New Caledonia, Lord Howe Is., Queensland Belliolum (8spp.) New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands Drimys southern Mexico to Cape Horn and the Juan Fernandez group Tasmannia Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea , Celebes, Borneo and the Phillipines. About seven species of Tasmannia are distinguished in Australia,: glaucifolia; confined to Barrington Tops, NSW stipitata; southeast Queensland to Hastings River, NSW xerophila high altitudes, southeast NSW, ACT and Vic. insipida; southeast Queensland, eastern NSW purpurascens; Barrington Tops, Gloucester Tops NSW membranea; northeast Queensland, south of Cape York above 500m asl. lanceolata; wet schlerophyll forest to alpine heath, SE NSW, Vic and Tasmania Many representatives of this family have been used for food and medicines by indigenous people
home