Insect growth inhibition by tocotrienols and hydroquinones from Roldana barba-johannis

• Published in: Phytochemistry (Oxford) 2004-07, Vol.65 (13), p.1963-1975
• Main Authors: Céspedes, Carlos L., Torres, Patricio, Marı́n, Juan C., Arciniegas, Amira, Romo de Vivar, Alfonso, Pérez-Castorena, Ana L., Aranda, Eduardo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acetylation; Animals; antioxidant activity; Asteraceae; Asteraceae - chemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical constitution; Chemical control; chemical structure; Control; Fall Armyworm; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; hydroquinone; Hydroquinones; Hydroquinones - pharmacology; insect growth; insect growth regulators; Insect-growth regulation; insecticidal properties; Insecticides - pharmacology; larvae; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; methylation; Molecular Structure; phytochemicals; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; plant extracts; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant physiology and development; Protozoa. Invertebrates; Roldana barba-johannis; sargachromenol; sargahydroquinoic acid; sargaquinoic acid; scavenging activity; secondary metabolites; Spodoptera - drug effects; Spodoptera - growth & development; Spodoptera frugiperda; Tocotrienols; Tocotrienols - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0031-9422; 1873-3700
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2004.03.037

Tocotrienols and hydroquinones displaced insecticidal and insect growth inhibitory activities against Fall Armyworm ( Spodoptera frugiperda). The methanol extract from the aerial parts of Roldana barba-johannis (Asteraceae) afforded sargachromenol, sargahydroquinoic acid, and sargaquinoic acid. These natural products and their corresponding acetylated and methylated derivatives showed insecticidal and insect growth regulatory activities against the Fall Armyworm [ Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith, (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)], an important insect pest of corn. The most active compounds were sargachromenol and its acetylated derivative; sargahydroquinoic acid and its acetylated derivative; and a mixture of sargachromenol, sargahydroquinoic acid, and sargaquinoic acid (6:3:1) and the acetylated form of this mixture. All these compounds and mixtures had significant inhibitory effects between 5.0 and 20.0 ppm in diets. Most compounds were insecticidal to larvae, with lethal doses between 20 and 35 ppm. In addition, these substances also demonstrated scavenging properties toward 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical in TLC autographic and spectrophotometric assays. These compounds appear to have selective effects on the pre-emergence metabolism of the insect. The results from these compounds were fully comparable in activity to those known natural insect growth inhibitors such as gedunin and methanol extracts of Cedrela salvadorensis and Yucca periculosa. These substances may be useful as natural insecticidal agents.