title: Nematicidal activity of acetophenones and chalcones against Meloidogyne incognita and structure-activity considerations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With the ultimate goal of identifying new compounds active against root-knot nematodes, a set of 14 substituted chalcones were synthesised, starting from acetophenones. These chalcones and various acetophenones were tested in vitro against Meloidogyne incognita.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most potent acetophenones were 4-nitroacetophenone and 4-iodoacetophenone, with EC(50/24 h) values of 12 ± 5 and 15 ± 4 mg L(-1) respectively, somewhat weaker than that of the chemical control fosthiazate in our previous experiments (EC(50/24 h) 0.4 ± 0.3 mg L(-1)). When we converted the acetophenones to chalcones, the nematicidal activity differed, based on their substitution pattern. The condensation of 4-nitroacetophenone with 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzaldehyde to give the corresponding chalcone (E)-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one led to a slight reduction in activity (EC(50/24 h) value 25 ± 17 mg L(-1)). Moreover, (E)-3-(2-hydroxy-5-iodophenyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one showed better activity (EC(50/24) h value 26 ± 15 mg L(-1)) than 4-methoxyacetophenone (EC(50/24 h) value 43 ± 10 mg L(-1)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acetophenones and chalcones may represent good leads in the discovery of new nematicidal compounds and may have potential use in crop management as active ingredients.
authors: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors: Pierluigi
authors: P
authors: Caboni
authors: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors: Nadhem
authors: N
authors: Aissani
authors: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Demurtas
authors: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors: Nikoletta
authors: N
authors: Ntalli
authors: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Onnis
mesh_terms: D000098:Acetophenones / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047188:Chalcones / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014431:Tylenchoidea / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000098:Acetophenones; D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D047188:Chalcones
keywords: Meloidogyne; acetophenone; chalcone; nematicide; nematode