Phytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of catechin derivatives.
(+/-)-Catechin is a potent phytotoxin, with the phytotoxicity due entirely to the (-)-catechin enantiomer. (+)-Catechin, but not the (-)-enantiomer, has antibacterial and antifungal activities. Tetramethoxy, pentaacetoxy, and cyclic derivatives of (+/-)-catechin retained phytotoxicity. The results indicate that antioxidant properties of catechins are not a determining factor for phytotoxicity. A similar conclusion was reached for the antimicrobial properties. Centaurea maculosa (spotted knapweed) exudes (+/-)-catechin from its roots, but the flavanol is not re-absorbed and hence the weed is not affected. The much less polar tetramethoxy derivative may, however, be absorbed and hence be able to cause toxicity. Because of the combination of phytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity, (+/-)-catechin could be a useful natural herbicide and antimicrobial.
Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1173, USA.
Ravikanth
R
Veluri
Tiffany L
TL
Weir
Harsh Pal
HP
Bais
Frank R
FR
Stermitz
Jorge M
JM
Vivanco
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006540:Herbicides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013237:Stereoisomerism
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D006540:Herbicides; D002392:Catechin