Nematicidal activities of two phytoalexins from Taverniera abyssinica.
The traditional analgesic and antipyretic Ethiopian drug "Dingetegna" is made of dried root material of Taverniera abyssinica A. Rich (Leguminosae). In a screening for nematicidal natural products, "Dingetegna" extracts showed strong nematicidal activities towards C. elegans. In the following, medicarpin and 4-hydroxymedicarpin were isolated as nematicidal constituents from the extracts. In a microwell plate assay for nematicidal activity, both compounds exhibited an LD50 of 25 micrograms/ml towards C. elegans. Beside these nematicidal effects, weak cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities were observed. In addition, both compounds inhibited oxygen consumption of axenically grown C. elegans, L 1210 cells, and filamentous fungi. Respiration in sensitive bacteria was not affected. In L 1210 cells, the incorporation of precursors into macromolecules was affected in the presence of glucose, indicating that inhibition of respiration is not the only target site of the compounds.
Stadler
M
M
Lehrbereich Biotechnologie, Universität Kaiserslautern, Federal Republic of Germany.
Dagne
E
E
Anke
H
H
D000818:Animals; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013729:Terpenes; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D000094162:Phytoalexins
D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013729:Terpenes; D000094162:Phytoalexins