title: Herbicide activity of extracts from Ailanthus altissima (Simaroubaceae).
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to isolate and characterize ailanthone-rich materials from the bark of the deciduous tree Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle and to assess their herbicide activity on selected herbaceous species. Ailanthone-rich fractions were obtained from A. altissima bark by extraction with dichloromethane and ethyl acetate and subsequent purification of these crude extracts, and of the remaining water mixture after solvent extraction, by means of gel permeation chromatography. A number of fractions were isolated and characterized for ailanthone content. A dichloromethane fraction was shown to contain 92% w/w of ailanthone, as demonstrated by HPLC and NMR analysis. A significant pre-emergence herbicide activity was found for most of the extracts which was directly correlated to ailanthone concentration. A remarkable combined pre- and post-emergence herbicide activity was found for a specific fraction. These results indicate that the bark of A. altissima may represent an interesting source for the production of natural herbicides for use in agriculture.
authors: Istituto di Ricerca Protos, Via Flavia 23/1, c/o BIC Incubatori FVG, 34148, Trieste, Italy. pedersini@protos-institute.org
authors: Cristiano
authors: C
authors: Pedersini
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Bergamin
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Aroulmoji
authors: Sanzio
authors: S
authors: Baldini
authors: Rodolfo
authors: R
authors: Picchio
authors: Patricia Gutierrez
authors: PG
authors: Pesce
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Ballarin
authors: Erminio
authors: E
authors: Murano