Phytochemical Profile and Potential Antifungal and Phytotoxic Effects of Piper crassinervium Essential Oil and Its Pure Constituents

Authors: Wang, Mei; Tamang, Prabin; Pan, Zhiqiang; ZHAO, JIANPING - University Of Mississippi; Bajsa Hirschel, Joanna; LEE, JOSEPH - University Of Mississippi; FARAGO, PAULO - State University Of Ponta Grossa; MANFRON, JANE - State University Of Ponta Grossa

Submitted to: ACS Agricultural Science and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/12/2025
Publication Date: 10/6/2025
Citation: Wang, M., Tamang, P., Pan, Z., Zhao, J., Bajsa Hirschel, J.N., Lee, J., Farago, P.V., Manfron, J. 2025. Phytochemical Profile and Potential Antifungal and Phytotoxic Effects of Piper crassinervium Essential Oil and Its Pure Constituents. ACS Agricultural Science and Technology. 5(10):2071-2081. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsagscitech.5c00457.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsagscitech.5c00457

Interpretive Summary: In this work, we explore the chemical composition and bioactivity of essential oil (EO) derived from Piper crassinervium, focusing on its antifungal and phytotoxic properties. Through a combination of GC-MS, NMR, and bioassay-guided isolation, we identify myristicin, elemicin, and apiole as major bioactive compounds. This is, to our knowledge, the first report documenting the potent antifungal effects of P. crassinervium EO and its constituents against Colletotrichum fragariae and Botrytis cinerea, along with their phytotoxicity in Arabidopsis thaliana and Lemna paucicostata. Our study addresses the pressing need for natural, sustainable alternatives to synthetic pesticides. By identifying compounds with both antifungal and herbicidal activity, our findings contribute new knowledge that supports the development of environmentally friendly biopesticides and aligns with the mission of advancing agricultural science and technology through innovative solutions.

Technical Abstract: This study investigates the phytochemical composition and potential fungicidal and phytotoxic effects of the essential oil (EO) extracted from Piper crassinervium. GC-MS analysis revealed a diverse array of bioactive compounds, with myristcin (30.3%) as the predominant constituent, followed by elemicin (8.6%), epi-ß-caryophyllene (7.7%), and ß-caryophyllene (5.4%). The EO’s antifungal activity was evaluated in vitro against several plant pathogens, including Colletotrichum fragariae, C. gloeosporioides, C. acutatum, Botrytis cinerea, and Fusarium oxysporum. A bioassay-guided fractionation approach was employed to isolate the EO’s antifungal constituents, which were subsequently characterized using 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Among the isolated compounds, elemicin exhibited impressive antifungal activities against C. fragariae and B. cinerea, with IC50 values of 13.23 µg/mL and 25.88 µg/mL, respectively. Herbicidal activity was evaluated using Arabidopsis thaliana and Lemna paucicostata seed assays. Myristicin exhibited stronger inhibitory effects on A. thaliana than elemicin, with IC50 values of 247 µM and 332 µM, respectively. Apiole and myristicin also demonstrated notable inhibitory activity against L. paucicostata, with IC50 values of 166.5 µM and 285 µM, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report the significant antifungal activity of P. crassinervium EO and its isolated pure compounds against C. fragariae and B. cinerea, as well as their moderate phytotoxic effects on A. thaliana and L. paucicostata. These findings highlight the potential of plant-derived EOs as natural alternatives to synthetic pesticides, offering promising solutions for sustainable agricultural practices and effective pest management strategies.