title: Triterpenoid glycosides from Medicago sativa as antifungal agents against Pyricularia oryzae.
abstract: The antifungal properties of saponin mixtures from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) tops and roots, the corresponding mixtures of prosapogenins from tops, and purified saponins and sapogenins against the causal agent of rice blast Pyricularia oryzae isolates are presented. In vitro experiments highlighted a range of activities, depending upon the assayed metabolite. The antifungal effects of the most promising prosapogenin mixture from alfalfa tops were confirmed by means of in planta tests using three different Italian cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica), known to possess high, medium, and low blast resistance. The evidenced antifungal properties of the tested metabolites allowed some considerations on their structure-activity relationship. Results indicate that prosapogenins are active compounds to prevent the fungal attack of P. oryzae on different rice cultivars. Therefore, if properly formulated, these substances could represent a promising and environmentally friendly treatment to control rice blast.
authors.affiliation: Genomica del Riso, Parco Tecnologico Padano , Via Einstein Località Cascina Codazza, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abbruscato
authors.forename: Solveig
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tosi
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crispino
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biazzi
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Menin
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Picco
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pecetti
authors.forename: Pinarosa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Avato
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tava
mesh_terms: D001203:Ascomycota / Q000187:drug effects; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006027:Glycosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000737:chemistry*; D012275:Oryza / Q000382:microbiology; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D006027:Glycosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014315:Triterpenes
keywords: Pyricularia oryzae; alfalfa; antifungal activity; hederagenin; medicagenic acid; prosapogenins; saponins