Benzenetriol-Derived Compounds against Citrus Canker

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T11:14:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-03-06 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek In order to replace the huge amounts of copper salts used in citrus orchards, alternatives have been sought in the form of organic compounds of natural origin with activity against the causative agent of citrus canker, the phytopathogen Xanthomonas citri subsp. Citri. We synthesized a series of 4-alkoxy-1,2-benzene diols (alkyl-BDOs) using 1,2,4-benzenetriol (BTO) as a starting material through a three-step synthesis route and evaluated their suitability as antibacterial compounds. Our results show that alkyl ethers derived from 1,2,4-benzenetriol have bactericidal activity against X. citri, disrupting the bacterial cell membrane within 15 min. Alkyl-BDOs were also shown to remain active against the bacteria while in solution, and presented low toxicity to (human) MRC-5 cells. Therefore, we have demonstrated that 1,2,4-benzenetriol-a molecule that can be obtained from agricultural residues-is an adequate precursor for the synthesis of new compounds with activity against X. citri. Department of Molecular Microbiology Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute University of Groningen Department of Chemical Engineering (ENTEG) University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4 School of Pharmaceutical Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) School of Pharmaceutical Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) FAPESP: 2017/50216-0 Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek: 729.004.026