Screening of the Growth-Inhibitory Effects of 168 Plant Species against Lettuce Seedlings

The methanol extracts of 168 plant species from 68 families were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against lettuce seedling elongation. Among the plant species tested, 12 species had EC50 values for radicle growth inhibition ranging from 0.01 to 5.00 mg fresh weight equivalent mL-1. Enterolobium contortisiliquum, a traditionally used herbal medicine, exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity (estimated EC50: 0.28 fresh weight equivalent mL-1). Among the 12 species, Pachysandra terminalis, Tamarindus indica, and Albizia guachapele required investigation, because only little has been reported about their chemical constituents to date. The data in the present study would be useful in finding new lead compounds for natural herbicides.