Isolation and Identification of Pennogenin Tetraglycoside from (Solanaceae) and Its Antifungal Activity against , Causal Agent of Fusarium Dieback.

Antifungal assay-guided fractionation of the methanolic crude extract of (Solanaceae), popular known as 'lady of the night', led the isolation and identification of the steroidal saponin named pennogenin tetraglycoside, which was identified for the first time in this plant species by spectroscopic means. The crude extract, fractions and pennogenin tetraglycoside exhibited mycelial growth inhibition of and . is a cosmopolitan fungal phytopathogen that affects several economically important crops. However, we highlight the antifungal activity displayed by pennogenin tetraglycoside against , since it is the first plant natural product identified as active for this phytopathogen. This fungus along with its insect symbiont known as Kuroshio shot hole borer () are the causal agents of the plant disease Fusarium dieback that affects more than 300 plant species including avocado () among others of ecological relevance. Scanning electron microscopy showed morphological alterations of the fungal hyphae after exposure with the active fractions and 12 phenolic compounds were also identified by mass spectrometry dereplication as part of potential active molecules present in leaves.