Eleutherine plicata Herb.

Eleutherin is a type of naphthoquinone derivative with the protective effect against the injury ofhuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), which can be isolated from the edible bulbs of Eleutherine americana (Hong-Cong).

Eleutherol is a naphthalene isolated from E. americana with antifungal activities. Eleutherol is against yeasts Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Cryptococcus neoformans with MIC values between 7.8 µg/mL and 250 µg/mL. Eleutherol inhibits α-glucosidase function with an IC₅₀>1.00 mM.

(-)-3--2-hydroxy-8-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (Compound 1) is a naphthoquinone compound. (-)-3--2-hydroxy-8-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone is isolated from the bulbs of Eleutherine americana. (-)-3--2-hydroxy-8-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone shows no activity against lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production.

8-Desmethyleleutherin (Compound 2) is an antibacterial agent that can be extracted from the bulbs of Eleutherine americana. 8-Desmethyleleutherin has MIC values of both 62.5 µg/mL for S. aureus strains ATCC27664 and ATCC25923.