magainin-2

Magainin II is a member of the antimicrobial peptides family

Magainin 2, a cationic peptide derived from the African clawed frog (X. laevis) skin, exhibits host defense and antimicrobial properties. This compound effectively inhibits a range of pathogens, including E. coli, K. pneumoniae, S. epidermidis, S. aureus bacteria, and C. albicans fungus, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 5, 10, 10, 50, and 80 µg/ml, respectively. Additionally, at a concentration of 20 µM, Magainin 2 significantly reduces the germination and tube elongation in kiwi fruit pollen. It also curtails viral replication in Vero cells infected by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) or HSV-2, with half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50s) of 22.16 and 19.8 µM, respectively, while demonstrating low toxicity to these cells, shown by a 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) greater than 100 µM.

Pexiganan (MSI 78 free base), a synthetic analog of magainin 2, is a potent, broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide with oral activity. It is utilized in researching infections, including diabetic foot ulcer infections [1].

Pexiganan acetate (MSI 78) is a synthetic cationic peptide composed of 22 amino acids and demonstrates potent antibacterial activity. Pexiganan acetate is an analogue of magainin 2, which is a naturally occurring host defense peptide originally isolated from frog skin. The antibacterial action of Pexiganan acetate is thought to involve disruption of the integrity and permeability of the bacterial cell membrane or cell wall, leading to bacterial cell death.