Chemical Constituents and Antifungal Properties of Piper ceanothifolium Kunth Against Phytopathogens Associated with Cocoa Crops

In this study, the antifungal potential of chemical constituents of <i>Piper ceanothifolium</i> Kunth was determined against three phytopathogenic fungi associated with the cocoa crop. The methodology included the phytochemical study of the inflorescences of <i>P. ceanothifolium</i>, the synthesis of a chroman-4-one type derivative and the evaluation of the antifungal activity against <i>Moniliophthora roreri</i>, <i>Fusarium solani</i>, and <i>Lasiodiplodia theobromae</i>. The phytochemical study led to the isolation and identification of two new hydroquinones (<b>1</b> and <b>5</b>), together with three known compounds (hydroquinones <b>2</b> and <b>3,</b> and chromene <b>4</b>). The synthesis of a new chromone <b>6</b> obtained from <b>2</b> through an oxa-Michael type intramolecular cyclization is also reported. All compounds showed strong antifungal activity, with <b>6</b> (IC₅₀ of 16.9 µM) standing out for its action against <i>F. solani</i>, while prenylated hydroquinones <b>1</b> (30.4 µM) and <b>2</b> (60.0 µM) were the most active against <i>M. roreri</i> and <i>L. theobromae</i>, respectively. The results of this research represent the first report of the chemical composition and antifungal properties for <i>P. ceanotifolium</i>, suggesting its potential use as a control method against <i>M. roreri</i>, <i>F. solani</i>, and <i>L. theobromae</i>.