Phytochemical characterization and bioherbicide potential of Duranta erecta L.

Abstract

We characterized the chemical compounds present in the extract of dry leaves from Duranta erecta L. using ESI-MSn mass spectrometry and assessed their phytotoxic potential on Lactuca sativa L.. The extraction process involved exhaustive extraction with 50% ethanol, and the resulting extracts were subsequently dried through lyophilization. Solutions of 2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/mL concentrations were prepared from the dried extracts to investigate their allelopathic effects on L. sativa, focusing on germination, germination speed, root elongation, shoot length, and fresh biomass. Statistical analysis was performed using Analysis of Variance, and means were compared using the Scott-Knott test (p < 0.05). The ESI-MSn analysis identified a total of 20 compounds in the extract, with 12 of them being reported for the first time in Duranta sp. Our findings suggest that D. erecta possesses allelopathic potential, as evidenced by its cytotoxicity, mitodepressive effects, and phytotoxicity on germination and morphological parameters in the bioassay conducted with L. sativa.