Background: In order to understand the bioactivity of Myoporum bontioides A. Gray against plant pathogens and determine its active ingredients, the inhibitory activities of methanol extracts from M. bontioides against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (E. F. Smith) Snyder & Hansen, Pestalotia mangiferae P. Henn., Thielaviopsis paradoxa (De Seynes) v. Hohnel, Colletotrichum musae (Berk. & M. A. Curtis) v. Arx, Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler, Mycosphaerella sentina (Fr.) Schroter and Sphaceloma fawcettii Jenk. were evaluated using a growth rate method, and the active ingredient was isolated by activity-directed isolation and identified by determination and analysis of IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and mass spectra and correlative physical constants.
Results: The results showed that the extracts from stems and leaves of M. bontioides exhibited inhibitory activity against the seven fungi, with > 58% inhibition at 10 g L(-1) after 72 h. The active compound was isolated and identified as (-)-epingaione, and showed inhibitory activity against the above seven fungi. The inhibitory activity against P. mangiferae was the highest, with an EC(50) value of 77 mg L(-1). The EC(50) values against the other six fungi were 147-245 mg L(-1). (-)-Epingaione also inhibited spore germination of F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum, T. paradoxa and S. fawcettii.
Conclusion: (-)-Epingaione demonstrated broad-spectrum inhibitory activity against plant pathogenic fungi and is promising for exploitation as a fungicide.