Discovery of New Triterpenoid Saponins Isolated from Maesa japonica with Antifungal Activity against Rice Blast Fungus Magnaporthe oryzae

While searching for new antifungal compounds, we revealed that a methanol extract of plant species Maesa japonica has a potent antifungal activity in vivo against rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. To identify the antifungal substances, the methanol extract of M. japonica was extracted by organic solvents, and consequently, six active compounds were isolated from the n-butanol layer. The isolated compounds were five new acylated triterpenoid saponins including maejaposide I (1), maejaposides C-1, C-2, and C-3 (2-4), and maejaposide A-1 (5), along with a known one, maejaposide A (6). These chemical structures were determined by NMR and a comparison of their NMR and MS data with those reported in the literature. Based on the in vitro antifungal bioassay, the five compounds (2-6) exhibited strong antifungal activity against M. oryzae with MIC values ranging from 4 to 32 μg/mL, except for maejaposide I (1) (MIC > 250 μg/mL). When the compounds were evaluated at concentrations of 125, 250, and 500 μg/mL for an in vivo antifungal activity against rice blast, compounds 2-6 strongly reduced the development of blast by at least 85% to 98% compared to the untreated control. However, compound 1 did not show any in vivo antifungal activity up to a concentration of 500 μg/mL. Taken together, our results suggest that the methanol extract of M. japonica and the new acylated triterpenoid saponins can be used as a source for the development of natural fungicides.