Abstract
Pulsatilla koreana, a species endemic to Korea, is an important herb used in traditional medicine to treat amoebic dysentery and malaria. In the present study, 23 oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins 1–23 and eight lupane-type triterpenoid saponins 24–31 were isolated from the roots of P. koreana. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. The methanol extract and isolated compounds were next assessed for nematicidal activity against the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita). The methanol extract showed strong nematicidal activity after 48 h, with a LC50 value of 92.8 μg/mL. Compounds 2, 5, 9, 20, and 21 showed significant effects, with LC50 values ranging from 70.1 to 94.7 μg/mL after 48 h. These results suggest that triterpenoid saponins from P. koreana should be explored as potential natural nematicides for developing new agents to control root-knot nematode disease.
Highlights
IntroductionThe primary pathogen, the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita), is known to predispose the host to attacks from soil borne fungal pathogens (secondary pathogens), resulting in a synergistic effect
Plant parasitic nematodes inflict serious damage on agricultural crops and plants
Synthetic compounds have mainly been used for plant protection, but many of these pesticides have side effects including residues in plants, contamination of groundwater, the potential for adverse ecological impacts from pesticide use, and the creation of a continuing need for the development of new nematode control strategies and products [4]
Summary
The primary pathogen, the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita), is known to predispose the host to attacks from soil borne fungal pathogens (secondary pathogens), resulting in a synergistic effect. Various nematicidal substances of plant origin such as triglycerides, sesquiterpenes, alkaloids, steroids, diterpenes, and flavonoids, have been identified in this way [5]. These compounds can be developed for use as nematicides themselves, or can serve as model compounds for the development of chemically synthesized derivatives with enhanced activity and reduced environmental impacts [6]. During our search for botanical pesticides from natural plants, we found that the methanol extract of Pulsatilla koreana Nakai (Ranuculaceae) has high nematicidal activity against M. incognita. 31 triterpenoid saponins were isolated (Figure 1) and their nematicidal activities against the root-knot nematode were evaluated
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