Biologically Active Components against Drosophila melanogaster from Podophyllum hexandrum

Abstract

In the course of screening for novel naturally occurring insecticides from Chinese crude drugs, a dichloromethane extract of Podophyllum hexandrum was found to give an insecticidal activity against larvae of Drosophila melanogaster Meigen. From the extract, an insecticidal compound was isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation. The compound was identified as podophyllotoxin (1) by comparison of its spectroscopic characteristics with literature data. In bioassays for insecticidal activity, 1 showed a LC(50) value of 0.24 micromol/mL diet against larvae of D. melanogaster and a LD(50) value of 22 microg/adult against adults. Acetylpodophyllotoxin (1A), however showed slight insecticidal activity in both assays, indicating that the 4-hydroxyl group was an important function for enhanced activity of 1.

Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and cytotoxicity of emerging biotechnological tool: Mayapple (Podophyllum hexandrum L.: Berberidaceae)

“…Drosophila melanogaster is an insect which can be killed by using the insect killing power of this plant [48]. There is a compound called podophyllotoxin which was also extracted by the same scientist.…”

“…The LC 50 value of podophyllotoxin is 0.24 μmol/mL which can be used to kill larvae of Drosophila melanogaster and a LD 50 value of 22 μmol/mL against adults. Acetylpodophyllotoxin is another extracted compound from this plant, and it has showed little insect killing activity in both assays, indicating that the 4-hydroxyl group is the reason of the compound to be more potent [48].…”

Insecticidal compounds from Evodia rutaecarpa against Drosophila melanogaster

“…In our search for new naturally occurring insecticidal compounds, we have studied Chinese crude drugs with a history of safe use as medicines 1–8. In the course of screening for novel naturally occurring insecticides from Chinese crude drugs, the MeOH extract of the fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa Benth was found to exhibit insecticidal activity against larvae of Drosophila melanogaster Meigen.…”

Synthesis Of 2′(2′,6′)-(Di)Halogenoisoxazolopodophyllic Acids-Based Amides Derived from a Naturally Occurring Lignan Podophyllotoxin and Their Acaricidal Activity

“…This work and 2′-bromopodophyllotoxin (6). 15 Then, 2′(2′,6′)-(di)halogenopodophyllones (7−9) were prepared by oxidation of 4−6.…”