Inhibitors of Chlorophyll Biosynthesis from Bulbs of Gladiolus spp

Compounds extracted with methanol from the bulbs of Gladiolus spp. were tested for inhibition of Chl accumulation in greening cress (Lepidium sativum L.) seedlings. For the biotest, cress seeds were imbibed with water for 8 h and then incubated in the dark with the test solution for 40 h. Chlorophyll accumulation was determined at the end of the subsequent irradiation period of 8 h. Compounds active in this biotest were purified by several chromato­ graphic steps and identified by thin-layer chromatography with staining reactions and by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The following compounds were identified and their concentration for 50% inhibition of Chl accumulation determined: sucrose (75 mм) plus glucose (30 mм) , 3-hydroxybenzoic acid methylester (0.49 mм) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (6.7 mм) . The inhibitory action was compared with several substituted derivatives of the natural compounds.