Anti-TMV Activity of Chemicals in Leaves and Branches of Ailanthus altissima

  Objective  Chemical composition and anti-tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) activity of Ailanthus altissima were studied to pave the way for developing an effective viral inhibitor.

  Methods  Substrates in the n-butanol extract of leaves and branches of A.altissima plants were separated using silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and MCI column chromatography.Chemical structures of the substrates were determined based on NMR and MS data, and anti-TMV activity of the compounds examined using the half-leaf method.

  Results  The 17 compounds isolated from the n-butanol extract were identified to be: (1) kaempferol, (2) (2S)-3-o-octadeca-9Z, 12Z, 15Z-trienoylgycery-O-β-D-galactopyranoside, (3) hexacosane, (4) 6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid, (5) eichlerianic acid, (6) colocasinol A, (7) caffeic acid eicosanyl ester, (8) acernikol, (9) (-)-Sakuyayesinol (10), (14S,17S, 20S, 24R)-20,24,25-trihydroxy-14,17-cylomalabarican-3-one, (11) 4-(3-butoxy-1-hydroxy-2-methoxypropyl) benzene-1, 2-diol, (12) pinnata, (13) trans-syringin, (14) gingerglycolipid A, (15) gingerglycolipid B, (16) benzyl 2-o-β-apiofuranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2,6-dihydroxy-benzoate, and (17) picrorhizoside C.Among them, Compounds 2, 14, and 15 were isolated from the plant for the first time.And the lignans, phenylpropanoids, or galactose lipids, such as Compounds 6, 8, 13, and 14 at concentration of 50 μg·mL⁻¹ displayed a TMV inactivation rate greater than 50%, which was similar to that of the positive control, ningnamycin.For Compounds 6, 13, and 14, the rates were even higher than that of ningnamycin.

  Conclusion  All 17 substances isolated from the leaves and branches of A.altissima exhibited varying degrees of inhibitory effect on TMV.The efficacy was more significant as shown by certain Lignans, phenylpropanoids, and galactose lipids.