New dimeric stilbenoids from fungal-challenged peanut ( Arachis hypogaea) seeds

The peanut plant can resist fungal attacks by producing stilbene-derived phytoalexins. Once understood, such a natural phytoalexin-based mechanism of peanut resistance could be potentially manipulated to obtain fungal-resistant peanut breeding lines. Several simple stilbenoid phytoalexins from peanuts have been reported. However, more complex stilbenoid derivatives such as those that have been reported from other sources and considered important factors in plant defense have not been found in peanuts. The purpose of this research was to isolate and characterize further new oligomeric peanut stilbenoids that may act as phytoalexins. Two new prenylated stilbene dimers named arahypin-6 (3) and arahypin-7 (4) have been isolated from wounded peanut seeds challenged by an Aspergillus caelatus strain. The structures of these new putative phytoalexins were determined by analysis of NMR, MS, and UV spectroscopic data. Together with other known peanut stilbenoids that were also produced in the challenged seeds, these new compounds may play a defensive role against invasive fungi.