Antifungal alkaloids from Mahoniafortunei against pathogens of postharvest fruit

Abstract

Postharvest pathogens can affect a wide range of fresh fruit and vegetables, including grapes, resulting in significant profit loss. Isoquinoline alkaloids of Mahoniafortunei, a Chinese herbal medicine, have been used to treat infectious microbes, which might be effective against postharvest pathogens. The phytochemical and bioactive investigation of this plant led to the isolation of 18 alkaloids, of which 9 compounds inhibited the growth of Botrytiscinerea and 4 compounds against Penicilliumitalicum. The antifungal alkaloids could change the mycelium morphology, the total lipid content, and leak the cell contents of B.cinerea. Furthermore, the two most potent antifungal alkaloids, berberine (13) completely inhibited effect on gray mold of table grape at 512 mg L−1, while jatrorrhizine (18) exhibited an inhibition rate > 90% on grape rot at the same concentration, with lower cytotoxicity and residue than chlorothalonil, which suggested that ingredients of M.fortunei might be a low-toxicity, low-residue, eco-friendly botanical fungicide against postharvest pathogens.Graphical