Potensi Murraya keonigii sebagai Herbisida Alami

Various kinds of agricultural products are needed to support organic farms to produce superior quality products, one of it was natural herbicides. Some plants have the potential to become natural herbicides by producing chemical compounds, namely allelopathy which can inhibit the growth of surrounding plants and Murraya keonigii is one of it. This study aims to see the potential of M. keonigii to become a natural herbicide. Grass seeds were given M keonigii’s extract at a dose of 0 gr / l (control / M0), 50 gr / lt (M1), 60 gr / lt (M2), and 70 gr / lt (M3). The results showed that the aromatic or allelopathic compounds in M ​​keonigii affected the germination. Germination was slower at doses of 60 gr / l (M2) and 70 gr / lt (M3) compared to controls (M0) and 50 gr / lt (M1). Radicle length did not increase rapidly in M2 and M3 treatment. Germination power of grass seeds in control and M0 had a value of 100% or all germinated, while M1 and M2 had 67% germination. The higher the dose of M keonigii extract, the slower the process of grass seed germination.

Bioherbicidal Properties of Parthenium hysterophorus, Cleome rutidosperma and Borreria alata Extracts on Selected Crop and Weed Species

Natural product-based herbicides could be the effective alternatives to synthetic chemical herbicides for eco-friendly weed management. This research, therefore, was conducted to identify the phytotoxic properties of Parthenium hysterophorus L., Cleome rutidosperma DC. and Borreria alata (Aubl.) DC. with a view to introducing them as a tool for natural herbicide development. The methanol extracts of these plants were examined on the germination and growth of Zea mays L., Oryza sativa L., Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench and Amaranthus gangeticus L., Oryza sativa f. Spontanea Roshev. (Weedy rice), Echinochloa colona (L.) Link., Euphorbia hirta L., and Ageratum conyzoides L. under laboratory and glasshouse conditions. A complete randomized design (CRD) with five replications and randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications were laid out for laboratory and glasshouse experiments, respectively. In the laboratory experiment, three plant extracts of 0, 6.25, 12.5, 50, and 100 g L−1 were tested on survival rate, hypocotyl, and radicle length of eight test plant species. No seed germination of A. conzyoides, E. hirta, and A. gangeticus were recorded when P. hysterophorus extract was applied at 50 g L−1. C. rutidosperma had the same effect on those plants at 100 g L−1. In the glasshouse, similar extracts and concentrations used in the laboratory experiments were sprayed on at the 2–3 leaf stage for grasses and 4–6 for the broadleaf species. Tested plants were less sensitive to C. rutidosperma and B. alata compared to P. hysterophorus extract. Among the weeds and crops, A. conyzoides, E. hirta, A. esculentus and A. gangeticus were mostly inhibited by P. hysterophorus extract at 100 g L−1. Based on these results, P. hysterophorus was the most phytotoxic among the tested plant extracts and could be used for developing a new natural herbicide for green agriculture.

Reconsidering Hydrosols as Main Products of Aromatic Plants Manufactory: The Lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia) Case Study in Tuscany

The present work evaluates for the first time two Lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia Emeric ex Loisel.) aromatic waters obtained from different plant organs, the flowers and the stems. Both extracts were analysed by GC-MS, which indicates semi-quantitative differences between the major metabolites including linalool, 1,8-cineole, camphor, linalyl acetate and 4-terpineol. 1H-NMR and LC-MS investigation confirmed the presence of these compounds. Moreover, behavioural tests with the food insect pest Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera Tenebrionidae) showed a good repellency for both hydrosols extracts with RD50 values of 3.6 and 3.3 µL·cm−2 for the flowers and stems, respectively; at the higher concentrations, however, the hydrosol extract from the flowers is expected to be more effective than the one from the stems. The effect of the flowers and stems aromatic water of Lavandin on seed germination of Raphanus sativus was also evaluated. Results showed that seed germination was completely inhibited by flowers hydrolate, having a possible application as natural herbicide. The overall experience with these Lavandin extracts indicates the potential of improved hydrolates to become the main distillation products, rather than by-products, of the aromatic plants manufacturing; this stimulates further discussions about the potential positive impacts that such a shift could have in the context of ecopharmacognosy.

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF THE PHYTOTOXIC EFFECT OF THE HEXANE FRACTION FROM THE LEAVES OF Smilax brasiliensis (SMILACACEAE)

The species of Smilax genus are known as sarsaparilla or japecanga, being widely used in folk medicine as a tonic, antirheumatic, anti-syphilitic, antihypertensive and diuretic and for sweating, arthritis and skin conditions. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the phytotoxic activity and to identify the main classes of secondary metabolites present in the hexane fraction obtained from Smilax brasiliensis. The leaves were collected, dried, crushed and extracted by percolation with ethanol, obtaining the ethanol extract. Part of this extract was partitioned with hexane, resulting in the hexane (HEX) fraction. The best results by the phytotoxic activity in Lactuca sativa seeds were for the HEX4 and HEX5 sub-fractions, at concentration of 250 µg per plate. When evaluating the phytotoxicity in Allium cepa seeds, the best results were found for the HEX1 sub-fraction for the radicle and the HEX2 sub-fraction for the hypocotyl, both at concentration of 125 µg per plate. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of coumarins, steroids and flavonoids in the hexane fraction, suggesting that the phytotoxic activity may be attributed at least partially to these compounds; however, additional studies are needed. These results suggest that in the future, the hexane fraction of S. brasiliensis leaves can be used as a natural herbicide.

Encapsulation of inuloxin A, a plant germacrane sesquiterpene with potential herbicidal activity, in β-cyclodextrins

A potential natural herbicide inuloxin A was successfully encapsulated in β-cyclodextrins, increasing its water solubility and preserving its biological properties for practical applications.