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

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