Allelopathic Potential of (Roxb.) Moon against Four Test Plants and the Biological Activity of Its Allelopathic Novel Compound, 8-Dehydroxy-11--Acetyl-12--Tigloyl-17-Marsdenin.

Plant parts and extracts that are rich in bioactive substances with allelopathic potential can be explored as a possible alternative to herbicides for natural weed control in sustainable agriculture. In the present study, we investigated the allelopathic potential of leaves and its active substances. Aqueous methanol extracts of showed significant inhibitory activities against the growth of lettuce ( L.), alfalfa ( L.), timothy ( L.), and barnyard grass ( (L.) Beauv.). The extracts were purified through various chromatography steps, and one active substance was isolated and determined by spectral data to be a novel compound, assigned as steroidal glycoside 3 (8-dehydroxy-11--acetyl-12--tigloyl-17-marsdenin). Steroidal glycoside 3 significantly inhibited the seedling growth of cress at a concentration of 0.03 mM. The concentrations needed for 50% growth inhibition of the cress shoots and roots were 0.25 and 0.03 mM, respectively. These results suggest that steroidal glycoside 3 may be responsible for the allelopathy of leaves.