SEED-GERMINATION AND GROWTH-INHIBITORY CADINENES FROM EUPATORIUM-ADENOPHORUM SPRENG

Chloroform extract of the aerial parts of Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng was fractionated and examined for growth inhibition. Bioassay-directed fractions of the plant materials afforded three known cadinenes and beta-sitosterol. The effects of different fractions as well as isolated cadinenes were determined using Allium cepa, Raphanus sativus, and Cucumis sativus seeds. Three-day exposure to these cadinenes significantly inhibited germination and seedling growth of all three assay seeds. The degree of inhibition was dependent upon seed species and the concentrations of the compounds tested. Cadinene (1) was found to be more inhibitory to the seeds tested and the activity of the cadinene (3) was less than that of (1) and (4).