Activity Guided Isolation of Nematicidal Constituents from the Roots of Berberis brevissima Jafri and Berberis parkeriana Schneid

Abstract

Biological screening of diffrent parts of the selected Berberis species (B. brevissima Jafri and B. parkerianaSchneid) showed that methanolic root extract possessed signifiant efficy against Meloidogyne javanica (a rootknot nematode). From root methanolic extracts of selected Berberis species four isoquinoline alkaloids; jatrorrhizine,dehydrocheilnthifoline, berberine and berberrubine were isolated. Structures of the isolated compounds were determinedby using EIMS, 1H and 13C NMR, and other 2D spectroscopic techniques. Percentage juveniles mortality of M. javanicawas determined at various concentrations (100, 200 and 300 µg mL-1) using carbofuran as control. Berberine possessedthe highest nematicidal activity (71.33%) followed by jatrorrhizine (59.50%). The in vitro results suggested that thesecompounds from Berberis species could be potential novel nematicides against M. javanica