Allelopathic Potential and Substances from Cork Tree (Pbellodendron amurense Rupr.)

Allelopathic effects of the cork tree (Phellodendron amurense Rupr.) on several crops and soil miro-organisms were assessed using germination bioassay and antimicrobial assay, and allelochemicals were identified. In a germination bioassay, extract of cork tree inhibited at high concentration on germination of several crop seeds such as cabbage, lettuce, and cucumber. However, aqueous extracts inhibited powerfully growth of test organisms such as Streptococus aureus, S. aureus, S. typhimurium, and E. coli as bacteria, and Candida albicans as yeast, and Botrytis cineria and Alternata alternaria as fungi.. The cork tree extract showed strong antimicrobial activities against isolated soil fungi. The allelochemicals were separated using Silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatography and HPLC. The substances were analyzed by UV spectrometry and EI-mass spectrometry. The active allelochemicals were identified as isoquinoline alkaloids, berberine and palmatine.