The structures of the butenolides 1 and 2, isolated from the endemic plants Hortonia floribunda, H. angustifolia, and H. ovalifolia, collected in Sri Lanka, have been elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. These compounds exhibited potent mosquito larvicidal activity against the second instar larvae of Aedes aegypti.

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Fruit rot caused by Aspergillus niger is a major postharvest problem in wood-apple, Feronia limonia Swingle (syns. F. elephantum Correa; Limonia acidissima L.; Schinus limonia L.[Rutaceae]). The effect of four Generally Recommended As Safe (GRAS) compounds-sodium bicarbonate, calcium chloride, citric acid and sodium benzoate-in different concentrations was evaluated on mycelium growth and spore germination. The effectiveness of the compounds was investigated on inoculated and naturally infected fruits. Sodium bicarbonate (4%) completely inhibited the mycelial growth and spore germination. Fruits that were first inoculated and then treated with 4% sodium bicarbonate, or the reverse, gave 53.6% and 98.4% disease reduction, respectively. Non-treated control fruits were diseased completely 3 days after inoculation. Sodium bicarbonate treatment on naturally infected fruits controlled the disease by 100% and extended the storage life up to 28 days at 27±2°C and 65-70% r.h. Sensory attributes of the treated fruits did not change during storage.

The new hexahydroazulenones hortonones A (1) to C (3) were isolated from the leaves of three representative species of the endemic Sri Lankan genus Hortonia that belongs to the family Monimiaceae. Hortonones A (1) and B (2) have the unprecedented rearranged hortonane sesquiterpenoid carbon skeleton, and hortonone C (3) has the unprecedented rearranged and degraded 13-norhortonane skeleton. Hortonone C (3) exhibited in vitro cytotoxicity against human breast cancer MCF-7 cells at 5 μg/mL.