Extraction, purification and anti-TMV effects of α (β)-2,7,11-cembratriene-4,6-diol from tobacco leaves

Background Acetone ethanol extracts from tobacco leaves have antiviral activity against TMV, but the antiviral effects of their specialized metabolites have not been systematically studied yet, especially the underlying mechanism is still unexplored. Results The tobacco cembranoids α(β)-2,7,11-cembratriene-4,6-diol (α(β)-CBD) were extracted and purified with an effective and green protocol including innovatively added 5% phosphoric acid for elution, one time silica gel chromatographic column separation and impurity removal and further HPLC purification. The results of antiviral activities against tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) with the local lesion counting method showed that α(β)-CBD have in vivo higher protective effects of 73.2% and 71.6%, at 75.0 μM, respectively, than control agent Ningnanmycin (53.1%). Notably, The results of ELISA and and TMV-GFP fluorescent optical imaging assay indicated a obviously reduced viral protein and weaker GFP fluorescence signal and smaller infection area, which confirmed their anti-TMV activities at protein level. Furthermore, the enhanced production of SA and JA and the significantly increased transcription of of JA signaling pathway ( COI1 and PDF1.2 ) and SA signaling pathway genes ( PR1 , NPR1 and EDS1 ) in treated plants further conformed that exogenously applied α(β)-CBD can effectively elicit the tobacco plant immunity against TMV. Conclusions The α(β)-CBD mainly stimulates disease resistance of tobacco plants to resist TMV and it can be used as bioagents to control TMV in the future. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.