Abstract:
A plant viral disease inhibitor containing as an active ingredient thereof at least one material selected from the group consisting of theaflavin and its derivatives represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen or ##STR2## and their analogues.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a plant viral disease inhibitor. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with plant viral disease inhibitor containing those components extracted from leaves of tea as active ingredient thereof. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Hitherto, research has been conducted in connection with the pharmacological action of tea. However, substantially no single component contained in tea has been experimented or tested to evidence the effect thereof. 
     The inventor has endeavored to find new uses for tea, in particular, to make the most of tea without wasting any part thereof as a pharmaceutically or biologically active agent, e.g. a biocide. During the investigations, it has been found that an extract of tea prevents generation of Dahlia mosaic virus, Crotalaria mosaic virus and Adzuki mosaic virus, and furthermore that the tannin of tea controls the diseases of a Japanese bladder cherry, an eggplant, a tomato, tobacco-By No. 4, etc., which have been inoculated with Tobacco mosaic virus. Thus, it has now been found that theaflavin contained in leaves of tea and its derivatives have an action to inhibit plant viral diseases. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a plant viral disease inhibitor which contains as an active ingredient thereof at least one material selected from the group consisting of theaflavin and its derivatives represented by the general formula: ##STR3## wherein R is hydrogen or ##STR4## and their analogues. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an ultraviolet zone absorption spectrum of TF-1; 
     FIG. 2 is a visible zone absorption spectrum of TF-1; 
     FIG. 3 is an infrared ray absorption spectrum of TF-1; 
     FIG. 4 is an ultraviolet zone absorption spectrum of TF-2; 
     FIG. 5 is a visible zone absorption spectrum of TF-2; 
     FIG. 6 is an infrared ray absorption spectrum of TF-2; 
     FIG. 7 is an ultraviolet zone absorption spectrum of TF-3; 
     FIG. 8 is a visible zone absorption spectrum of TF-3; 
     FIG. 9 is an infrared ray absorption spectrum of TF-3; 
     FIGS. 10(a) to (i) are curves showing a change in absorption of TF-2 by various nucleic acids and their derivatives; 
     FIGS. 11(a) to (i) are curves showing a change in absorption of TF-3 by various nucleic acids and their derivatives; and 
     FIGS. 12(a) to (l) are curves showing a change in absorption of TF-2 and TF-3 by the components of nucleic acid. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The compounds represented by the above formula are theaflavin (both of R are hydrogen), theaflavin monogalate (one of R is ##STR5## and theaflavin digalate (both of R are ##STR6## In addition to these compounds, the present invention includes their analogues obtained by purifying the above compounds. 
     Theaflavin, its derivatives and their analogues can be obtained from leaves of tea as a raw material. 
     For example, the leaves of tea fermented (including black tea) are extracted with water (including warm water and hot water) or an organic solvent to obtain phenolic dyes, or the catechin of green tea is treated with an oxidation enzyme and an oxidizing agent to obtain the phenolic dyes. After caffeine and the like are removed from these dyes, the remainder is dissolved in an organic solvent. The resulting organic solvent solution is subjected to partition by liquid chromatography using an acidic or neutral ion exchanger such as the Sephadex (a cross-linked dextran) and a nonionic exchanging fixed phase (e.g., octadecyl hydrocarbon, aliphatic acid esters, silicic acid material and the like) whereby theaflavin, theaflavin monogalate and theaflavin digalate can be obtained. 
     Furthermore, these fractions are again passed through a Sephadex LH-20 column and then dissolved in an organic solvent. After the organic solvent solution is concentrated and the organic solvent is distilled away, the fractions are dissolved in water. The resulting aqueous solution is subjected to partition by the use of a cellulose column whereby the analogues of theaflavin and its derivatives can be obtained. These analogues, if desired, are dissolved in an organic solvent and concentrated under reduced pressure. As an aqueous solution, it is flowed down an organic solvent layer and then separated into an aqueous layer and an organic solvent layer. On crystallization from the aqueous layer, purified analogues can be obtained. 
     Hereinafter, the above separation process will be explained in more detail as an embodiment of this invention. 
     One kilogram of black tea is extracted with five portions of hot water and the combined hot extract is allowed to cool down to room temperature. The extract so obtained is dissolved in isobutyl methyl ketone and the resulting isobutyl methyl ketone solution is concentrated to one liter under reduced pressure. This solution is washed with 2.5% NaHCO 3  --H 2  O and alkalis contained therein are then removed by three or more times of water-washing. 300 ml of an aqueous solution containing the extract is prepared and treated with chloroform three times to remove caffeine contained therein. 
     The extract from which caffeine has been removed, is then dissolved in ethyl acetate and concentrated under reduced pressure whereby 20 grams of solids are obtained. These solids are dissolved in a mixed solution of 43% acetone and 57% water and introduced into a Sephadex LH-20 column. Partition of the solution is carried out using 43% acetone and 57% water whereby three fractions (F-1, F-2 and F-3) are obtained. 
     Each of these fractions is passed through again through the Sephadex LH-20 column using 40% acetone and 60% water. The acetone is distilled away under reduced pressure and the resulting precipitate is dissolved in ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate solution is concentrated under reduced pressure and the ethyl acetate is distilled away. The precipitate is then dissolved in water and the resulting aqueous solution is charged to a cellulose column (200 to 300 mesh). Partition is carried out using water. Only water-soluble materials are combined together and dissolved in ethyl acetate (that is to say, the same procedure is repeated). The ethyl acetate solution is concentrated under reduced pressure and the ethyl acetate is distilled away. After being dissolved in water, the precipitate is flowed down through an ethyl acetate layer as an aqueous solution whereby a water layer and an ethyl acetate layer are formed. 
     The water layer is allowed to stand and the precipitate obtained is dissolved in n-butyl alcohol. The n-butyl alcohol solution is concentrated under reduced pressure to dryness. The residue is dissolved in water and allowed to stand whereupon the analogues corresponding to the above fractions (i.e. F-1→ TF-1; F-2 → TF-2; and F-3 → TF-3) are obtained. 
     As organic solvents which can be used in the above described separation method, ethyl acetate, methyl isobutyl ketone, n-butyl alcohol, acetone, chloroform and the like can be listed. 
     FIG. 1 is an ultraviolet zone absorption spectrum of an analogue of theaflavin (hereinafter, referred to as &#34;TF-1&#34;), FIG. 2 is a visible zone absorption spectrum of TF-1, FIG. 3 is an infrared ray absorption spectrum of TF-1, FIG. 4 is an ultraviolet zone absorption spectrum of an analogue of theaflavin monogalate (hereinafter, referred to as &#34;TF-2&#34;), FIG. 5 is a visible zone absorption spectrum of TF-2, FIG. 6 is an infrared ray absorption spectrum of TF-2, FIG. 7 is an ultraviolet zone absorption spectrum of an analogue of theaflavin digalate (hereinafter, referred to as &#34;TF-3&#34;), FIG. 8 is a visible zone absorption spectrum of TF-3, and FIG. 9 is an infrared ray absorption spectrum of TF-3. 
     Elemental analytical values of TF-1, TF-2 and TF-3 are shown in Table 1. 
     
                       Table 1______________________________________          Found     Calculated          C     H       C       H______________________________________Theaflavin Free Type            55.29   4.86TF-1             54.82   4.50    61.70 4.29Theaflavin Monogalate            53.49   4.57TF-2             57.20   4.24    60.34 3.94Theaflavin Digalate            54.49   4.89TF-3             51.80   3.72    59.45 3.71______________________________________ 
    
     The theaflavin free type has a structural formula of C 29  H 24  O 12  and a molecular weight of 564.482; theaflavin monogalate, a structural formula of C 36  H 28  O 16  and a molecular weight of 716.584; and theaflavin digalate, a structural formula of C 43  H 32  O 20  and a molecular weight of 868,686. 
     The plant viral disease inhibitors of the present invention contain the above described active ingredients, singly or in admixture with each other. 
     Since these active ingredients are water-soluble, they are generally poured into soil as aqueous solutions thereof and absorbed in plants through their roots. As a matter of course, they can be absorbed in plants by other methods. Although the concentration of the active ingredients in the aqueous solutions is determined depending upon a plant to be administered, it is usually 0.1 to 100 milligrams per milliliter, preferably 0.3 to 45 milligrams per milliliter. 
     Viruses to which the inhibitors of the present invention can be effectively applied, are Tobacco mosaic virus (hereinafter, referred to as TMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (hereinafter, referred to as CMV), etc. It has been made clear that TMV lives upon those plants belonging to 198 species of 22 families, including tobacco, Solanacae, etc., and that CMV lives upon those plants belonging to 124 species of 45 families, including the gourd family and the aster family. Thus, viruses live upon a great number of plants. 
     Since the inhibitors of the present invention combine with either ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which play the leading part in infection and proliferation of these viruses, and furthermore, they act on the basic portions thereof, it can be expected that the inhibitors of the present invention will be effectively applied onto a number of viruses other than the above viruses. 
     Furthermore, the active ingredients of the present invention are natural compounds causing no damage from medicines and are the components of tea which is daily drunk. Taking into account the fact that not only a novel use of tea has been developed, but a product having no harm to human and animals has been produced, the practical value of the present invention is considered to be quite high. 
     The present invention will be explained in detail by reference to the following examples. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     A 0.1 or 0.5% aqueous solution of a theaflavin mixture (mixture of theaflavin free type, theaflavin monogalate and theaflavin digalate) separated from black tea was prepared. 
     This aqueous solution was added to TMV inoculated pathogen and inoculated on leaves of tobacco. After a lapse of 2 days, the infection of TMV was examined comparing with a control area. The results obtained are shown in Table 2. 
     
                       Table 2______________________________________    Concentration    0.1%         0.5%               Inhibitor        Inhibitor      Control  Added     Control                                AddedRun No.    Area     Area      Area   Area______________________________________1          216      33        349    02          205      36        225    0Coefficiencyof Inhibition      83.6%          100%______________________________________ The number of maculation was measured according to N. Glutinosa. 
    
     With the leaves of tobacco which was treated with the aqueous solution, no damages such as involution of the leaf edge and browning of leaf vein were detected. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     In this example, each of a theaflavin free type, theaflavin monogalate and theaflavin digalate was examined with its capability to prevent infection of TMV. The active ingredients concentration of the aqueous solution was 0.5% and each capability was measured by the same method as used in Example 1. The results obtained are shown in Table 3. 
     
                       Table 3______________________________________Theaflavin Free          Theaflavin   TheaflavinType           Monogalate   Digalate          Inhi-         Inhi-         Inhi-          bitor         bitor         bitorRun   Control  Added   Control                        Added  Control                                      AddedNo.   Area     Area    Area  Area   Area   Area______________________________________1     224      56      301    0     513    02     416      80      360    0     405    0Coeffi- 88.8%        100%         100%ciencyof Inhi-bition______________________________________ 
    
     In this case, no damages on the leaves of tobacco which had been treated with the inhibitor were detected. 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     In this example, the inhibition effect of TF-3 on TMV-RNA virus activity was examined. The concentration oF TF-3 in the aqueous solution was 3×10 -4  mole. The aqueous solution was maintained at pH of 7.0 by using 0.1 mole of a phosphoric acid buffer or 0.01 mole of a sodium chloride solution. TMV-RNA having a concentration of 2 μg/ml was used. The results obtained are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     
                                           Table 4__________________________________________________________________________     Time for acting                   Number of Maculation                                     Coefficiency ofTest Date with Nucleic Acid                Area                   1  2  3  4  5  Total                                     Inhibition__________________________________________________________________________                R  510                      404                         385                            506                               466                                  2271     0 hr                             60.5%                S  147                      207                         132                            235                               177                                   898Dec. 19, &#39;75 toDec. 22, &#39;75                R  261                      454                         155                            344                               122                                  1336     24 hrs                          100.0%                S  0  0  0  0  0   0                R  708                      449                         293                            -- -- 1450     0 hr                             24.0%                S  501                      373                         228                            -- -- 1102Jan. 7, &#39;76 toJan. 10, &#39;76                R  251                      149                         142                            -- --  542     24 hrs                          100.0%                S  0  0  0  -- --  0__________________________________________________________________________ R: Control Area S: Inhibitor Added Area 
    
     
                       Table 5______________________________________Time for                         Coeffi-acting                           ciencywith Nu-        Number of Maculation                            of Inhi-Test Date   cleic Acid            Area   1    2    3    Total bition______________________________________   0 hr     R      199  271  212  682    37.7%            S      158  115  152  425Dec. 26, &#39;75     R      521  182  740  1443   2 hrs                                100.0%to Dec. 28,      S      0    0    0    0&#39;75   4 hrs    R      217  624  259  1100            S      0    0    0    0     100.0%   0 hr     R      423  257  233  913            S      107  72   44   233    75.6%Jan. 6, &#39;76to Jan. 8,   2 hrs                                100.0%&#39;76              S      0    0    0    0            R      122  650  346  1118   4 hrs                                100.0%            S      0    0    0    0______________________________________ R: Control Area S: Inhibitor Added Area 
    
     EXAMPLE 4 
     In order to examine the inhibition effect of TF-2 on TMV-RNA virus activity, the procedure of Example 3 was repeated with the exception that TF-2 was used in place of TF-3 and the concentration was 2.6×10 -4  mole. The results obtained are shown in Tables 6 and 7. 
     
                                           Table 6__________________________________________________________________________     Time for     acting with                Number of Maculation                                   CoefficiencyTest Date Nucleic Acid             Area                1  2  3  4  5  Total                                   of Inhibition__________________________________________________________________________             R  252                   306                      317                         381                            408                               1664     0 hr                           82.7%Dec. 19, &#39;75 to   S   60                    43                       49                          91                             45                                288Dec. 22, &#39;75      R  218                   572                      247                         249                            195                               1481     24 hrs                        100.0%             S   0  0  0  0  0  0             R  278                   304                      565                         -- -- 1147     0 hr                           25.7%Jan. 7, &#39;76 to    S  187                   280                      386                         -- --  853Jan. 10, &#39;76      R  218                   310                      356                         -- --  884     24 hrs                        100.0%             S   0  0  0 -- --  0__________________________________________________________________________ R: Control Area S: Inhibitor Added Area 
    
     
                       Table 7______________________________________Time for                         Coeffi-acting                           ciencywith Nu-        Number of Maculation                            of InhiTest Date   cleic acid            Area   1    2    3    Total bition______________________________________            R      159  666  761  1586   0 hr                                  97.1%            S      6    29   11   46Dec. 26, &#39;75     R      443  296  469  1208to      2 hrs                                100.0%Dec. 28,         S      0    0    0    0&#39;75              R      289  445  304  1038   4 hrs                                100.0%            S      0    0    0    0            R      459  568  --   1027   0 hr                                  70.1%            S      128  180  --   308Jan. 6, &#39;76      R      465  263  --   728to      2 hrs                                100.0%Jan. 8,          S      0    0    --   0&#39;76              R      544  573  --   1117   4 hrs                                100.0%            S      0    0    --   0______________________________________ R: Control Area S: Inhibitor Added Area 
    
     EXAMPLE 5 
     In this example, a change in absorption of TF-2 by various nucleic acids and their derivatives was measured in order to examine the action of TF-2 on various viruses. This measurement was conducted under the conditions that the final concentration of TF-2 to 0.5 mg/ml and nucleic acid and its derivative be 1×10 -3  mole as phosphorus (0.01 mole acetic acid buffer solution, 0.01 mole NaCl, pH 5.5). 
     The results obtained are shown in FIG. 10(a) to (i) in which (a) to (i) indicate a change in absorption by DNA (double or single strandness), DNA (thermal modification), Apurinic-DNA, Apyrimidinic-DNA, Poly-U, Poly-C, Poly-A, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma-RNA and Escherichia coli- RNA, respectively. 
     EXAMPLE 6 
     In order to measure a change in absorption of TF-3 by various nuleic acids and their derivatives, the procedure of Example 5 was repeated with the exception that TF-3 was used in place of TF-2. In this case, the final concentration of the nucleic acids and their derivatives was 1×10 -4  mole as phosphorus. The results obtained are shown in FIG. 11(a) to (i), in which (a) to (i) indicate a change in absorption by DNA (double or single strandness), DNA (thermal modification), Apurinic-DNA, Apyrimidinic-DNA, Poly-U, Poly-C, Poly-A, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma-RNA and Escherichia coli-RNA, respectively. 
     EXAMPLE 7 
     In this example, a change in absorption of TF-2 and TF-3 by the components of nucleic acid was measured. In this case, the final concentration of TF-2 and TF-3 was 0.5 mg/ml and that of the component of nucleic acid was 1×10 -3  mole (0.01 mole acetic acid buffer solution, 0.01 mole NaCl, pH 5.5). The results obtained are shown in FIG. 12(a) to (i), in which (a) and (g), (b) and (h), (c) and (i), (d) and (j), (e) and (k), and (f) an (l) indicate a change in absorption by uracil, uridine, 5&#39;-UMP, adenine, nucleoside, and 5&#39;-AMP, respectively. 
     As apparent from Example 5 to 7, the active ingredients of the present invention combine with either DNA or RNA without discrimination, and furthermore they act together with any of their derivatives. It is also apparent that since they show combination action with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma-RNA and Escherichia coli-RNA, the action of these compounds is exerted on a quite large range in addition to plants. Furthermore, since these materials act with any of bases, nucleoside and nucleotide constituting nucleic acid, it is apparent that they combine directly with nucleic acid constituting bases. Also, it is shown that they have the same combination action as for any of pyrimidine and purine types.