ARS | Publication request: REVISED STRUCTURE FOR A SESQUITERPENE LACTONE FROM BOMBAX MALBARICA

Submitted to: Journal of Natural Products
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: November 29, 2000
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Cotton produces a group of chemicals that are toxic to various microorganisms that cause diseases in plants. We are interested in the toxicity of these and related chemicals to pathogenic microorganisms in order to increase cotton's resistance. A compound that is related to the cotton chemicals was reported previously from a distant relative of cotton. We isolated and purified this compound but found it had a different, but closely related structure from that reported earlier. Although different than the chemical we sought, measurements on its toxicity will add to our knowledge base on the toxicity of these types of compounds.

Technical Abstract: A sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Salmalia malbarica (syn Bombax malbaricum) roots was previously identified as hemigossylic acid lactone- 7-methyl ether. Using 2D nmr experiments we have now identified this compound as isohemigossylic acid lactone-2-methyl ether. We also identified 7-hydroxycadalene in these extracts.