Antifungal activities of the optically pure (>99%ee) (À)-and (+)-virgatusin, a tetra-substituted tetrahydrofuran lignan, were tested. (À)-Virgatusin, which is a natural product, showed highest antifungal activity against Colletotrichum lagenarium. Research on its structure-activity relationship was also performed. It was shown that two methoxy groups on 9 and 9 0 positions and a 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl group on the 7 position of virgatusin were essential for high fungal growth inhibition. The

more »

... art on 7 0 -phenyl group was not essential for activity. The 7 0 -(4-methoxyphenyl) derivative showed higher activity than that of (À)-virgatusin.