THE EFFECTS OF SOME SYNTHESISED STILBENE ANALOGUES ON ARTEMIA SALINA NAUPALII AND GERMINATION OF SORGHUM BICOLOR SEEDS

Six stilbene and their corresponding bibenzyl alcohols with no substitution on one ring were synthesized via the Grignard route. Corresponding dihydrostilbenes were obtained by transfer hydrogenation of the stilbenes. Dihydropinosylvin, the major phytoalexin in Dioscorea species was obtainend by demethylation of 3,5 dimethoxybibenzyl. P-Hydroxystilbene (LC50 1.0mg/ml), m-hydroxy stilbene (LC501.48) and 4-methoxy stilbene (LC508.0) were the most toxic to A. salina nauplii followed by their respective dihyrostilbene. The highest inhibition of germination of S. bicolor seeds were exhibited by the dihyrostilbenes especially dihyropinosylvin and its methylated derivative. Keywords: Stilbene, bibenzylalcohol, dihyrobibenzyl, Artemia salina, Sorghum bicolor, toxicity [Nig. J. Nat. Prod. And Med. Vol.6 2002: 19-25]