Nematicidal prenylated flavanones from Phyllanthus niruri

The hexane extract of Phyllanthus niruri plant, on rigorous column chromatography, yielded two prenylated flavanones, viz. 8-(3-methyl-but-2-enyl)-2-phenyl chroman-4-one (1) and 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-8-(3-methyl-but-2-enyl)-chroman-4-one (2). These were evaluated for nematicidal activity against two nematodes, i.e. root-knot (Meloidogyne incognita) and reniform (Rotylenchulus reniformis). The LC50 values ranged between 3.3 to 14.5 ppm as compared to 3.1 ppm for standard carbofuran.