Editing Pseudowintera (section)

==Pharmaceutical use==
Horopito contains a substance called ''sesquiterpene dialdehyde polygodiali'', otherwise known as ''[[polygodial]]'' that has a number of biological properties including [[antifungal medication|antifungal]], [[antimicrobial]], [[anti-inflammatory]], [[antiallergic]] and [[insecticide]] effects. Polygodial has been tested as a very effective inhibitor of [[Candida albicans]].<ref>McCallion, R. F., A. L. Cole, J. R. L. Walker, J. W. Blunt, and M. H. G. Munro. 1982. Antibiotic compounds from New Zealand plants, II: polygodial, an anti-Candida agent from Pseudowintera colorata. Planta Med. 44:134-138</ref><ref>Lee, S.H., Lee, J.R., Lunde, Kubo, I., In vitro antifungal susceptibilities of Candida albicans and other fungal pathogens to polygodial, a sesquiterpene dialdehyde. 1999, Planta Medica 65, pp 204-208</ref> Horopito was used traditionally by [[Māori people|Maori]] for a variety of medicinal purposes including treatment of: fungal skin infection, stomach pain, diarrhoea and as an analgesic. Early European settlers to New Zealand also used horopito for medicinal purposes.