Phytotoxic and Fungitoxic Activities of the Essential Oil of Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) Leaves and Its Composition

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2001-08, Vol.49 (8), p.3768-3771
• Main Authors: Kobaisy, Mozaina, Tellez, Mario R, Webber, Charles L, Dayan, Franck E, Schrader, Kevin K, Wedge, David E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Eukaryota - drug effects; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi - drug effects; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry - methods; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; Generalities. Disease free stocks; Generalities. Production, biomass, yield. Quality; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Oils, Volatile - chemistry; Oils, Volatile - pharmacology; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Plant Oils - chemistry; Plant Oils - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf0101455

The chemical composition of the essential oil of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) was examined by GC-MS. Fifty-eight components were characterized from H. cannabinus with (E)-phytol (28.16%), (Z)-phytol (8.02%), n-nonanal (5.70%), benzene acetaldehyde (4.39%), (E)-2-hexenal (3.10%), and 5-methylfurfural (3.00%) as the major constituents. The oil was phytotoxic to lettuce and bentgrass and had antifungal activity against Colletotrichum fragariae, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and Colletotrichum accutatum but exhibited little or no algicidal activity. Keywords: Kenaf; Hibiscus cannabinus; essential oil composition; fungi; algae; phytotoxicity; allelopathy