Potent insect antifeedant limonoid from Melia azedarach

MARÍA C. CARPINELLA, ,; CARLOS G. FERRAYOLI,; GRACIELA VALLADARES,; MARÍA T. DEFAGO; SARA M. PALACIOS

BIOSCIENCE, BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY

Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology and Agrochemistry

Lugar: Tokio; Año: 2002 vol. 66 p. 1731 - 1736

0916-8451

     Systematic fractionation of a fruit extract from Argentine Melia azedarach L., which was monitored by an insect antifeedant bioassay, led to the isolation of meliartenin, a limonoid antifeedant, which existed as a mixture of two interchangeable isomers. At 4 mg/cm2 and 1 mg/cm2, the isomeric mixture was as active as azadirachtin in strongly inhibiting the larval feeding of Epilachna paenulata Germ.  (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and the polyphagous pest, Spodoptera eridania (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), respectively.