Pest Management Science (2004) 60, 1131-1136

Rong Gao, Congfen Gao, Xuan Tian, Xiangyang Yu, Xudong Di, Hang Xiao and Xing Zhang (2004)
Insecticidal activity of deoxypodophyllotoxin, isolated from Juniperus sabina L, and related lignans against larvae of Pieris rapae L.
Pest Management Science 60 (11), 1131-1136
Abstract: In the course of screening for naturally occurring insecticides from plants from the northwestern part of China, a petroleum ether extract of Juniperus sabina L was found to show insecticidal activity against fifth-instar larvae of Pieris rapae L. From the extract, an insecticidal compound was isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation. The compound was identified as deoxypodophyllotoxin (1) by comparison of its spectroscopic characteristics with literature data. In bioassays, 1 showed antifeedant activity against fifth-instar larvae of P. rapae at 0.05-1.00 g litre^-1 and its AFC₅₀ (concentration for 50% antifeedant activity) values at 12 and 48 h were 0.170 and 0.060 g litre^-1, respectively. In that concentration range, all treated insects died within 48 h after treatment and compound 1 showed delayed insecticidal activity. At 0.015-0.100 g litre^-1, 1 showed insecticidal activity, with an LC₅₀ of 0.020 g litre^-1. The related compound deoxypicropodophyllotoxin (2), however, showed lower antifeedant and insecticidal activities than 1 in bioassay. This indicated that the trans-lactone ring is an important moiety for enhancing activity in these compounds. Comparison of the insecticidal activities of 1 and another related compound, podophyllotoxin (3), suggested that varying the substituent at C-4 is an exciting possibility for synthesizing more potent analogues.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Congfen Gao

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Pieris rapae