Nematicidal activities of two phytoalexins from Taverniera abyssinica

The traditional analgesic and antipyretic Ethiopian drug "Dingetegna" is made of dried root material of Taverniera abyssinica A. Rich (Leguminosae). In a screening for nematicidal natural products, "Dingetegna" extracts showed strong nematicidal activities towards C. elegans. In the following, medicarpin and 4-hydroxymedicarpin were isolated as nematicidal constituents from the extracts. In a microwell plate assay for nematicidal activity, both compounds exhibited an LD50 of 25 micrograms/ml towards C. elegans. Beside these nematicidal effects, weak cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities were observed. In addition, both compounds inhibited oxygen consumption of axenically grown C. elegans, L 1210 cells, and filamentous fungi. Respiration in sensitive bacteria was not affected. In L 1210 cells, the incorporation of precursors into macromolecules was affected in the presence of glucose, indicating that inhibition of respiration is not the only target site of the compounds.