Allelopathic Activity and Characterization of Allelopathic Substances from Elaeocarpus floribundus Blume Leaves for the Development of Bioherbicides

To help protect the environment as well as increase agricultural production, the use of synthetic herbicides must be reduced and replaced with plant-based bioherbicides. Elaeocarpus floribundus is a perennial, evergreen, and medium-sized plant grown in different areas of the world. The pharmaceutical properties and various uses of Elaeocarpus floribundus have been reported, but its allelopathic potential has not yet been explored. Thus, we carried out the present study to identify allelopathic compounds from Elaeocarpus floribundus. Aqueous MeOH extracts of Elaeocarpus floribundus significantly suppressed the growth of the tested species (cress and barnyard grass) in a dose- and species-dependent way. The three most active allelopathic substances were isolated via chromatographic steps and characterized as (3R)-3-hydroxy-beta-ionone, cis-3-hydroxy-alpha-ionone, and loliolide. All three substances significantly limited the seedling growth of cress, and the compound (3R)-3-hydroxy-beta-ionone had stronger allelopathic effects than cis-3-hydroxy-alpha-ionone and loliolide. The concentrations of the compounds required for 50% growth inhibition (I-50 value) of the cress seedlings were in the range of 0.0001-0.0005 M. The findings of this study indicate that all three phytotoxic substances contribute to the phytotoxicity of Elaeocarpus floribundus.

Automated summary

To explore the allelopathic potential of Elaeocarpus floribundus, this study found that its extracts significantly suppressed the growth of cress and barnyard grass. Three active allelopathic substances were isolated and identified as (3R)-3-hydroxy-beta-ionone, cis-3-hydroxy-alpha-ionone, and loliolide. These substances exhibited strong phytotoxic effects, with (3R)-3-hydroxy-beta-ionone being the most potent.