Bioactivity Profiling of Coronarin A and Villosin Isolated From Hedychium coronarium J. Koenig: Acaricidal, Nematicidal, and Antifungal Potential

This study explores the biocontrol potential of two labdane-type diterpenes, coronarin A and villosin, isolated from the rhizomes of Hedychium coronarium J. Koenig. The compounds were structurally characterized using FTIR, UV-Vis, HPLC, and mass spectrometry. Their bioactivities were evaluated against the red spider mite (Oligonychus coffeae), the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita), and the fungal pathogen Pestalotiopsis microspora. Coronarin A exhibited superior nematicidal activity, with 82.05% juvenile mortality and significant egg hatching inhibition at 5.0 mg/mL. Villosin demonstrated stronger acaricidal efficacy, achieving 90.28% mite mortality at the same concentration. Moderate antifungal effects were observed, particularly with villosin. Molecular docking studies revealed strong binding affinities of both compounds to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and GABA transaminase (GABA-T), supporting their pesticidal mechanisms. ADMET analysis indicated favorable pharmacokinetic and toxicological profiles, highlighting their safety and potential for agricultural applications. This study highlights the safety and potential biopesticidal potential of the compounds, as evidenced by in vitro and in silico analyses; however, their suitability for agricultural applications will be evaluated through further field trials in future research.