The bioactive quinone Alpha-lapachone was originally isolated from the heartwood of trees of the Bignoniaceae family (Tabebuia sp). It can also be found in other families such as Verbenaceae, Proteaceae, Leguminosae, Sapotaceae, Scrophulariaceae, and Malvaceae. Alpha-Lapachone showed potent cytotoxicity against different cancer cell lines. Alpha-lapachone is an "irreversible" inhibitor of topoisomerase II. Alpha-lapachone demonstrated antibacterial activity against pathogenic organisms Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi and antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.