Stress induced carbazole phytoalexins in Glycosmis species

Phytochemistry. 2001 Sep;58(1):129-35. doi: 10.1016/s0031-9422(01)00186-8.

Abstract

Induced formation of a series of carbazole alkaloids was observed in leaves of Glycosmis parviflora and G. pentaphylla after wounding, UV-irradiation, and particularly after inoculation with the fungus Botrytis cinerea. Chemical variation between different provenances and even individuals of G. parviflora led to an accumulation of different derivatives from which three proved to be undescribed natural products. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods and named carbalexins A, B, and C. Bioautographic tests on TLC plates with Cladosporium herbarum exhibited strong antifungal activity for the new carbalexins as well as for the already known 2-hydroxy-3-methylcarbazole, but only weak effects for the pyranocarbazole glycoborinine. Detailed experiments with marked infection areas confirmed the restricted accumulation of carbazole derivatives which could not be detected in non-infected areas of the same leaf. Apart from carbazoles, in some individuals of G. parviflora an additional accumulation of the pyranoquinolones flindersine and methylflindersine was induced, which supports the already previously discussed biogenetic connections between carbazoles and prenylated quinolones.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids / biosynthesis
  • Alkaloids / chemistry
  • Alkaloids / pharmacology
  • Antifungal Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antifungal Agents / metabolism*
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Carbazoles / chemistry
  • Carbazoles / metabolism*
  • Carbazoles / pharmacology
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromatography, Thin Layer
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Indonesia
  • Mitosporic Fungi / drug effects
  • Mitosporic Fungi / physiology
  • Phytoalexins
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / metabolism*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Leaves / physiology
  • Rosaceae / microbiology
  • Rosaceae / physiology*
  • Seeds / physiology
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Species Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Terpenes
  • Ultraviolet Rays
  • United States

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Carbazoles
  • Plant Extracts
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Terpenes
  • Phytoalexins