Biological Activity Evaluation Against Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium circinatum, and Meloidogyne incognita of Bioactives-Enriched Extracts of Ruta graveolens L

TL;DR

This study evaluates the effectiveness of enriched plant extracts from Ruta graveolens against three plant pathogens and identifies key compounds responsible for their activity.

Contribution

The study identifies specific bioactive compounds in Ruta graveolens extracts that are effective against Fusarium and Meloidogyne species.

Findings

Extracts enriched in fatty acids and furanocoumarins showed high inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum.

Terpene-rich extracts were most effective against Fusarium circinatum.

All tested extracts caused mortality in Meloidogyne incognita.

Abstract

Ruta graveolens L. has been described as possessing antifungal and nematicidal activity. Among the bioactive compounds present in this plant, alkaloids and furanocoumarins have attracted considerable attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro biological activity of extracts from rue enriched in bioactive compounds against Fusarium oxysporum, F. circinatum, and Meloidogyne incognita, and to correlate the chemical profile of the extracts with their biological activities. Six extracts with contrasting chemical profiles, obtained by pressurized liquid extraction and supercritical fluid extraction using green solvents, were selected for biological evaluation. The highest F. oxysporum growth inhibition was achieved with the extracts enriched in fatty acids and furanocoumarins at concentrations of 4, 8, and 16 mg/mL, while for F. circinatum, the highest growth inhibition was obtained using the extract enriched in terpenes at 16 mg/mL; moreover, the six extracts evaluated caused mortality in M. incognita. Therefore, enriched extracts of R. graveolens might be considered as an alternative for pathogen control on economically important crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, and onions, among others. Correlations between biological activities and chemical compositions suggest the importance of fatty acids against F. oxysporum, fatty acids and terpenes against F. circinatum, and alkaloids, coumarins, and furanocoumarins for M. incognita.

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