Toxicity of Derris and Cube

Abstract

ECONOMICconsiderations lead to the use of powdered derris or cube, or extracts made from them, as insecticides instead of the highly active principles, rotenone and its relatives, which have been isolated from these plants. Although in the earlier studies of the action of derris it was believed that rotenone was the essential constituent, recent work (S, 5) has strengthened the view that the roots of derris and cube possess more insecticidal activity than can be accounted for by their rotenone content. Experiments reported in the preceding paper (4) indicate that rotenone may under certain circumstances be distinctly toxic to warm-blooded animals and must, therefore, be considered as potentially toxic to man.The present report is a similar study of the toxicity of derris and certain extracts made from it for warm-blooded animals, with an attempt at correlation of the findings with the rotenone content as determined chemically, and with the toxicity for insects as determined on house flies.

Lonchocarpus (barbasco, cube, and timbo) -- : a review of recent literature

“…Mathews and Lightbody (273) in 1936 reported on the toxicity of three samples of derris and one of cube to rats.…”

“…McKinncy (273) in September 1936 reported that the application of dust mixtures containing 1 percent rotenone, derived from derris or cube, with talc as a diluent, proved effective in controlling the western striped cucumber beetle, Diabrotica trivittata Mann., on cantaloupes in the Salt River Valley, Ariz.…”