Midgut microsomes prepared from larvae of the fall armyworm [Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E Smith)], a generalist insect, and the velvetbean caterpillar (Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner), a semispecialist, were used to study their oxidative activity toward a variety of allelochemicals. Allelochemicals such as terpenoids, alkaloids, indoles, glucosinolates, flavonoids, coumarins, cardenolides, phenylpropenes, and a ketohydrocarbon were all metabolized by the microsomal cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases in both species. Fall armyworm microsomes oxidized monoterpenes more favorably than other types of terpenes, indicating a preference for these compounds. In all instances, the oxidative metabolism of these allelochemicals can be induced by dietary allelochemicals such as indole 3-carbinol, indole 3-acetonitrile, menthol, flavone, or peppermint oil ranging from 1.3- to 9.5-fold. In the case of certain triterpenes, tetraterpene, alkaloid, coumarin, and cardenolides, metabolic activity can only be observed after induction. The monooxygenase activities toward these allelochemicals were generally higher in the generalist than in the semispecialist. These findings provide strong evidence that microsomal monooxygenases play an important role in the detoxification of plant toxins and hence host-plant selections in herbivorous insects.

A 2-year-old, castrated, male Russian blue cat presented with acute dyspnoea, cyanosis, and lethargy. A thoracic radiography revealed a large cranial mediastinal mass; the computed tomography revealed caudal lobe atelectasis of the right lung with pericardial and pleural effusions. The cytodiagnostic tests revealed high-grade CD4⁺ CD8⁺ T-cell mediastinal lymphoma as clinical stage Vb; l-asparaginase-cyclophosphamide-doxorubicin-vincristine-prednisolone (l-CHOP)-based chemotherapy was initiated, following which the mass shrunk rapidly; 1 week after the initiation of chemotherapy, the appetite-related and respiratory symptoms improved dramatically, and the pleural and pericardial effusion resolved. The patient remains in complete remission three years after the initiation of the l-CHOP chemotherapy. Therefore, the accurate diagnosis and instantaneous initiation of chemotherapy may resolve life-threatening pleural and pericardial effusions in cats with high-grade aberrant T-cell mediastinal lymphoma.