| Summary: | The phytotoxic potential of plants and the effect of their active components on another plant species is being explored as a potential alternative to synthetic herbicides for weed control. In the current study, we investigated the phytotoxic potential of the leaves of <i>Dregea volubilis</i> (L.f.) Benth. ex Hook.f. against four test plants [timothy (<i>Phleum pratense</i> L.), barnyard grass (<i>Echinochloa crus-galli</i> (L.) P. Beauv), lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> L.), and alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.)] and observed significant growth inhibition on those plants at concentrations >3 mg D.W. equivalent extract mL<sup>−1</sup>. A bioassay-governed purification of the <i>D. volubilis</i> extracts using different chromatography phases produced two growth inhibitory compounds, 3-hydroxy-α-ionone (compound 1) and 5-hydroxy-3,4-dimethyl-5-pentylfuran-2(5H)-one (compound 2). The compounds retarded the growth of barnyard grass and cress (<i>Lepidium sativum</i> L.) with <i>I</i><sub>50</sub> (concentration required for 50% growth suppression) values ranging from 0.098 to 0.450 mM for 3-hydroxy-α-ionone and 0.029 to 0.420 mM for 5-hydroxy-3,4-dimethyl-5-pentylfuran-2(5H)-one. Thus, the extracts and identified compounds may have the possibility to be utilized as bioagents for weed control.
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