| Title: | The role of pentacyclic triterpenoids in the allelopathic effects of Alstonia scholaris |
| Author(s): | Wang CM; Chen HT; Li TC; Weng JH; Jhan YL; Lin SX; Chou CH; |
| Address: | "Research Center for Biodiversity, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan" |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10886-013-0376-y |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1573-1561 (Electronic) 0098-0331 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Alstonia scholaris is a tropical evergreen tree native to South and Southeast Asia. Alstonia forests frequently lack understory species. However, potential mechanisms-particularly the allelochemicals involved-remain unclear. In the present study, we identified allelochemicals of A. scholaris, and clarified the role of allelopathic substances from A. scholaris in interactions with neighboring plants. We showed that the leaves, litter, and soil from A. scholaris inhibited growth of Bidens pilosa-a weed found growing abundantly near A. scholaris forests. The allelochemicals were identified as pentacyclic triterpenoids, including betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid by using (1)H and (13)C-NMR spectroscopy. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for radicle growth of B. pilosa and Lactuca sativa ranged from 78.8 muM to 735.2 muM, and ursolic acid inhibited seed germination of B. pilosa. The triterpenoid concentrations in the leaves, litter, and soil were quantified with liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry. Ursolic acid was present in forest soil at a concentration of 3,095 mug/g, i.e., exceeding the IC50. In the field, ursolic acid accumulated abundantly in the soil in A. scholaris forests, and suppressed weed growth during summer and winter. Our results indicate that A. scholaris pentacyclic triterpenoids influence the growth of neighboring weeds by inhibiting seed germination, radicle growth, and functioning of photosystem II" |
| Keywords: | *Allelopathy Alstonia/*metabolism Bidens/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism Germination/drug effects Pheromones/analysis/*chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology Photosynthesis/drug effects Plant Leaves/metabolism Plant Weeds/drug effects/growth & de; |
| Notes: | "MedlineWang, Chao-Min Chen, Hsiao-Ting Li, Tsai-Chi Weng, Jen-Hsien Jhan, Yun-Lian Lin, Shi-Xun Chou, Chang-Hung eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2014/01/07 J Chem Ecol. 2014 Jan; 40(1):90-8. doi: 10.1007/s10886-013-0376-y. Epub 2014 Jan 4" |
