Antifungal Activities of Dimeric Sesquiterpenes, Shizukaols C and F, Isolated from Chloranthus japonicus Sieb.

Abstract

Two dimeric sesquiterpenes were separated from <i>Chloranthus japonicus</i> Sieb. and identified as shizukaols C and F. They exhibited potent antifungal activities (MICs = 4-16 μg/ml) in vitro against various plant pathogenic fungi (<i>Pythium ultimum, Phytophthora infestans, Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum lagenarium, Alternaria kikuchiana,</i> and <i>Magnaporthe grisea</i>). Shizukaol C showed 88% and 91% protective activities in the greenhouse against <i>Puccinia recondita</i> (wheat leaf rust) and <i>Phytophthora infestans</i> (tomato late blight), respectively, at 100 μg/ml; shizukaol F exhibited 93% antifungal activity against <i>Puccinia recondita</i> at the same concentration. Therefore, these compounds might serve as interesting candidates for effective antifungal agents.