Insect antifeedant properties of withanolides and related steroids from Solanaceae

Summary Physalis peruviana shrubs were not attacked by larvae ofSpodoptera littoralis. It was demonstrated that withanolide E, a steroid isolated fromP. peruviana, as well as several related steroids, have insect antifeedant properties.     

Insect antifeedant terpenes,hot-tasting to humans

Summary Four dialdehyde sesquiterpenoids (1–4) isolated from East AfricanWarburgia plants exhibit powerful antifeeding activity for larvae of the armyworms,Spodoptera exempta andS. littoralis. The hotness of these sesquiterpenes is associated with this activity. The specific absolute stereochemistry of these antifeedants appears to govern the hotness of the taste.The authors are grateful to Proff. K. Nakanishi, A.S. Kende and T. Kubota for their interest and valuable discussion. Succulatal was provided by Dr. Y. Asakawa. This work was initiated during the stay of I.K. at the International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya. We also thank Mr A. Chapya for technical assistance.     

Dithyreanitrile: an unusual insect antifeedant fromDithyrea wislizenii

Summary Dithyreanitrile, a novel sulfur-containing indole alkaloid, was isolated from the seeds ofDithyrea wislizenii (Cruciferae). Dithyreanitrile inhibits feeding of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) larvae. Dithyreanitrile, the first natural product with two sulfur atoms and a nitrile attached to the same carbon, was characterized by X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, and chemical synthesis.     

Dithyreanitrile: an unusual insect antifeedant from Dithyrea wislizenii

Dithyreanitrile, a novel sulfur-containing indole alkaloid, was isolated from the seeds of Dithyrea wislizenii (Cruciferae). Dithyreanitrile inhibits feeding of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) larvae. Dithyreanitrile, the first natural product with two sulfur atoms and a nitrile attached to the same carbon, was characterized by X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, and chemical synthesis.     

Identification and efficient synthesis of 6-methoxy-2-benzoxazolinone (MBOA), an insect antifeedant

The identification and an efficient synthesis of 6-methoxy-2-benzoxazolinone (MBOA), an insect antifeedant inZea mays is reported.     

Anti-infective properties of bacteriocins: an update

Bacteriocin production is a widespread phenomenon among bacteria. Bacteriocins hold great promise for the treatment of diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria and could be used in the future as alternatives to existing antibiotics. The anti-infective potential of bacteriocins for inhibiting pathogens has been shown in various food matrices including cheese, meat, and vegetables. However, their inhibition of pathogens in vivo remains unclear and needs more investigation, due mainly to difficulties associated with demonstrating their health benefits. Many bacteriocins produced by established or potential probiotic organisms have been evaluated as potential therapeutic agents and interesting findings have been documented in vitro as well as in a few in vivo studies. Some recent in vivo studies point to the efficacy of bacteriocin-based treatments of human and animal infections. While further investigation remains necessary before the possibilities for bacteriocins in clinical practice can be described more fully, this review provides an overview of their potential applications to human and veterinary health.     

Insect hemocytes: Cells adapted to anaerobiosis

Summary Hemocytes from a free-living insect could be grown under strictly anoxic conditions. Their anaerobic metabolism was studied in vitro in such a cellular system.We thank Dr C. Remesy for analysing the volatile fatty acids and Drs P. Dejours and J. Girard for helpful discussions.     

Insect photoperiodism: various ways of regulating univoltinism in lacewings (Planipennia: Chrysopidae)

Summary Reproduction inTjederina gracilis adults depends on short-day followed by long-day conditions. InNineta pallida, development of overwintering first-instar larvae is retarded by short days; later on, that of second-and third-instar by long days.Nineta flava andChrysopa perla prepupae automatically enter diapause, but inN. flava, photoperiod regulates diapause eermination, and long days may retard egg laying     

Insect hormones in vertebrates: Anabolic effects of 20-hydroxyecdysone in Japanese quail

Ecdysteroids are hormones controlling cell proliferation, growth and the developmental cycles of insects and other invertebrates¹. They are occasionally present in various unrelated plants for no apparent reason; no phytohormonal function has yet been identified. In certain cases, ecdysteroids are accumulated to high levels in leaves, roots or seeds. Some ecdysteroid-containing plants have been known as medicinal plants for centuries. One of them,Leuzea carthamoides Iljin (Asteraceae), growing in Central Asia, contains 0.4% ecdysteroid in dry roots and 2% in seeds. A pharmacological preparation from this plant, Ecdisten, is already available as a commercial preparation for its anabolic, tonic and other effects, for medical use (review²). It remained problematic, however, whether ecdysteroids were truly responsible for these effects, becauseLeuzea contains a number of other biologically active compounds in addition to ecdysteroids. We extracted and purified ecdysteroids from the seeds ofLeuzea. With 6 g of 96% 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), we made a large-scale feeding assay with Japanese quail to find out whether ecdysteroid alone could duplicate the anabolic effects of the seeds. We found that the 96% ecdysteroid increased the mass of the developing quails in a dose-dependent manner, with the rate of increase proportional to the ecdysteroid content in the seeds; there was a 115% increase in living mass with 100 mg kg^–1 of pure 20E compared with 109.5% increase with 100–180 mg kg^–1 20E equivalents in the seeds. We conclude that the plethora of growth-promoting, vitamin-like effects induced in vertebrates byLeuzea is mediated by ecdysteroids.     

Insect venoms: Identification of dopamine and noradrenaline in wasp and bee stings

Zusammenfassung Die Anwesenheit von Dopamin und Noradrenalin im Bienen- und Wespengift wurde durch Fluoreszenzmikroskopie, Dünnschichtchromatographie und Spectrophotofluorimetrie nachgewiesen. Der Dopamin-Gehalt eines Stiches genügt, um die Herztätigkeit eines Insekts zu beschleunigen, was auch die Verteilung der giftigen Bestandteile zu den Wirkungsstellen beeinflussen kann.

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This work was supported by O.N.R. Grant No. AR-305-807 to Dr.B. I. Shapiro. The technical assistance of MissE. King and Mrs.M. Goldstone is acknowledged, as is the advice and encouragement drawn fromB. I. Shapiro andI. M. Cooke.     

Growth inhibitory, insecticidal and antifeedant effects of some antileukemic and cytotoxic quassinoids on two species of agricultural pests

Several quassinoids, obtained by isolation and derivatization from Simaba multiflora and Soulamea soulameoides, were evaluated for growth inhibitory and insecticidal effects against the tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens) and for antifeedant effects against H. virescens and the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). The relative activity of the quassinoids as insect growth inhibitors generally paralleled their known relative potency as antileukemic and cytotoxic agents.     

The properties of an arginine auxotroph ofSalmonella typhimurium

Résumé L'auteur décrit un mutant auxotrophe pour l'arginine chezSalmonella typhimurium. Les prototrophes arg⁺ sont induits par les rayons UV, MnCl₂ et méthane sulfonate d'éthyle. Le-propiolactone est moins efficace pour l'induction des arg⁺. La transduction avec le bactériophage PLT-22 cultivé sur une souche prototrophe donne arg⁺ à une fréquence de 1/10⁷ bactériophages. Le mutant arg^– est fécond ni avec les souches d'Escherichia coli K-12 HfrC et HfrH ni avec trois souches deKlebsiella pneumoniae.

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I am very grateful to Professor D. G.Catcheside, F.R.S., for his invaluable encouragement and advice, and to the Agricultural Research Council for the award of a Research Studentship.     

Growth inhibitory,insecticidal and antifeedant effects of some antileukemic and cytotoxic quassinoids on two species of agricultural pests

Summary Several quassinoids, obtained by isolation and derivatization fromSimaba multiflora andSoulamea soulameoides, were evaluated for growth inhibitory and insecticidal effects against the tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens) and for antifeedant effects againstH. virescens and the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). The relative activity of the quassinoids as insect growth inhibitors generally paralleled their known relative potency as antileukemic and cytotoxic agents.Phytochemical aspects of this work were supported by Contract CM-97295 with the Division of Cancer Treatment, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. Insects were kindly supplied by the agency of the United States Department of Agriculture at Brownsville, TX.     

Isolation and structure of amplexoside A. A new glycoside fromAsclepias amplexicaulis

Résumé A partir de la racine d'Asclepias amplexicaulis on a isolé un nouveau glycoside de la série prégnane, avec une potentialité d'action anti-cancer. Il possède l'aglycone: 12-cinnamoyl-20-O-acétylsarcostine. Les sucres asclépobiose et digitoxose se trouvent á C-3.

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Part V of Plant Investigations. Part IV, seeD. M. Piatak andK. A. Reimann, Tetrahedron Lett.,1972, 4525; b) This work was supported by grants from the American Cancer Society (IC-26) and its Illinois Division (Seiffert Trust Fund).

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We gratefully acknowledge samples of asclepobiose and sarcostin from Prof.T. Reichstein and his workers.     

Purification and properties of an amine oxidase in bovine dental pulp

Zusammenfassung In der löslichen Fraktion der Rinderzahnpulpa wurde die Aminoxydase gereinigt und die Enzymaktivität durch Isoniazid, Cuprizon,p-Chloromercuribenzoat,-Aminoproprionitril und Lysin-Vasopressin gehemmt. Die Aminoxydase hat wahrscheinlich Kupfer und Pyridoxalphosphat als prosthetische Gruppen.     

Purification and some properties of an amine oxidase from soybean seedlings

Summary An amine oxidase was purified 447-fold from soybean seedlings and some of its properties were investigated. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 25,000. It was most active towards putrescine, followed by spermidine and spermine. K_m-values for these substrates were relatively close. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by carbonyl reagents, such as semicarbazide and aminoguanidine.