The effects of Saw palmetto on flumethrin-induced lipid peroxidation in rats

In the present study, 40 male Wistar albino rats were used and divided into 4 groups. The first group served as the control group; the second group was administered Saw palmetto extract at the dose of 20 mg/kg/bw; the third group was administered flumethrin at the dose of 15 mg/kg/bw; and the fourth group was administered a combination of 20 mg/kg/bw Saw palmetto extract and 15 mg/kg/bw flumethrin, for 21 days, orally. After the trial period, blood and tissue (liver, kidney and brain) samples were taken from the rats. Saw palmetto extract did not cause significant alterations in plasma and tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, serum and tissue nitric oxide (NO) levels, erythrocyte and tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities when compared to the controls (p > 0.05). Flumethrin led to increased plasma and tissue MDA levels, serum and tissue NO levels, tissue GSH-Px activities and decreased erythrocyte and tissue SOD and CAT activities, and erythrocyte GSH-Px activity, compared to the controls (p < 0.05). The flumethrin and Saw palmetto extract combination increased erythrocyte SOD activity and decreased brain GSH-Px activity as compared to flumethrin (p < 0.05). In conclusion, it was determined that Saw palmetto extract did not cause any negative effect on the prooxidant-antioxidant balance. While flumethrin stimulated lipid peroxidation; Saw palmetto extract at the dose of 20 mg/kg/bw did not exhibit enough antioxidant effect in rats.     

Esterase-mediated malathion resistance in the human head louse, Pediculus capitis (Anoplura: Pediculidae)

Resistance in a dual malathion- and permethrin-resistant head louse strain (BR-HL) was studied. BR-HL was 3.6- and 3.7-fold more resistant to malathion and permethrin, respectively, compared to insecticide-susceptible EC-HL. S,S,S-Tributylphosphorotrithioate synergized malathion toxicity by 2.1-fold but not permethrin toxicity in BR-HL. Piperonyl butoxide did not synergize malathion or permethrin toxicity. Malathion carboxylesterase (MCE) activity was 13.3-fold and general esterase activity was 3.9-fold higher in BR-HL versus EC-HL. There were no significant differences in phosphotriesterase, glutathione S-transferase, and acetylcholinesterase activities between strains. There was no differential sensitivity in acetylcholinesterase inhibition by malaoxon. Esterases from BR-HL had higher affinities and hydrolysis efficiencies versus EC-HL using various naphthyl-substituted esters. Protein content of BR-HL females and males was 1.6- and 1.3-fold higher, respectively, versus EC-HL adults. Electrophoresis revealed two esterases with increased intensity and a unique esterase associated with BR-HL. Thus, increased MCE activity and over-expressed esterases appear to be involved in malathion resistance in the head louse.     

In vitro and in vivo effects of some pesticides on carbonic anhydrase enzyme from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) gills

Here we investigated the in vitro and in vivo effects of the pesticides, deltamethrin, diazinon, propoxur and cypermethrin, on the activity of rainbow trout (rt) gill carbonic anhydrase (CA). The enzyme was purified from rainbow trout gills using Sepharose 4B-aniline-sulfanilamide affinity chromatography method. The overall purification was approx. 214-fold. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a single band corresponding to a molecular weight of approx. 29 kDa. The four pesticides dose-dependently inhibited in vitro CA activity. IC₅₀ values for deltamethrin, diazinon, propoxur and cypermethrin were 0.137, 0.267, 0.420 and 0.460 μM, respectively. In vitro results showed that pesticides inhibit rtCA activity with rank order of deltamethrin > diazinon > propoxur > cypermethrin. Besides, in vivo studies of deltamethrin were performed on CA activity of rainbow trout gill. rtCA was significantly inhibited at three concentrations (0.25, 1.0 and 2.5 μg/L) at 24 and 48 h.     

狭卵链格孢菌毒素细交链孢菌酮酸对稗草细胞膜脂质过氧化作用的影响

为明确狭卵链格孢菌Alternaria augustiovoide菌株AAEC05-3产生的毒素细交链孢菌酮酸(tenuazonic acid,TeA)的作用机制,利用离体试验,研究了TeA对稗草叶片细胞膜脂质过氧化的影响。结果显示,低浓度TeA处理对稗草叶片的细胞膜透性和脂质过氧化影响不大;用高浓度TeA处理稗草叶片24 h后,稗草叶片细胞膜透性和脂质过氧化作用显著增强。TeA浓度为100 μmol/L时,稗草叶片相对电导率和丙二醛(MDA)含量分别增加28.21%和63.58%;脂氧合酶(Lox)活性增高61.59%,且不饱和脂肪酸含量显著降低,亚油酸(18∶2)和亚麻酸(18∶3)分别降低19.56%和17.20%,脂肪酸氢过氧化物在叶片中大量积累。表明TeA可以诱导稗草叶片细胞膜的脂质过氧化作用。     

Increased activity and reduced sensitivity of acetylcholinesterase associated with malathion resistance in a field population of the oriental migratory locust, Locusta migratoria manilensis (Meyen)

The susceptibility to malathion, and the activity and sensitivity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 1.1.1.7) were compared between two populations of the oriental migratory locust, Locusta migratoria manilensis (Meyen) collected from Wudi County of Shandong Province in East China and Huangliu County of Hainan Province in South China. Huangliu population showed 8.5-fold resistance to malathion compared with Wudi population. AChE from Huangliu population showed 4.8-fold higher activity than that from Wudi population toward the model substrate acetylthiocholine (ATC). Kinetic studies indicated that AChE from Huangliu population had 2.6-fold lower affinity, but 5.0-fold higher catalytic activity toward ATC than AChE from Wudi population. Significantly increased activity of AChE in Huangliu population was also confirmed by non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Inhibition kinetics revealed that AChE from Huangliu population was 9.8-, 2.4-, 8.0- and 7.7-fold less sensitive to inhibition by paraoxon, malaoxon, chlopyrifos oxon, demeton-S-methyl, respectively, than that from Wudi population. Our studies revealed that a mild resistance to malathion in Huangliu population was associated with reduced sensitivity and increased catalytic activity of AChE. Our results suggest that alterations of AChE may play an important role conferring or contribute to malathion resistance in Huangliu population of the locust.     

加州新小绥螨对土耳其斯坦叶螨的捕食作用

为明确加州新小绥螨Neoseiulus californicus （McGregor）对土耳其斯坦叶螨Tetranychus turkestani （Ugarov et Nikolski）的捕食潜力,采用捕食功能反应方法,研究了加州新小绥螨对土耳其斯坦叶螨各螨态的捕食作用。加州新小绥螨对雌成螨、若螨、卵的选择性捕食系数分别为0.44、1.25和1.35。在不同温度条件下,加州新小绥螨对土耳其斯坦叶螨的功能反应均属于Holling-Ⅱ型;28 ℃时捕食能力最强,对土耳其斯坦叶螨雌成螨、若螨和卵的攻击系数分别是0.6279、0.7203和0.7554,最大日捕食量分别为10.81头、28.49头和 40.82粒。在相同温度下,加州新小绥螨雌成螨寻找效应随着猎物密度的增加而降低;在相同密度下,寻找效应随温度的升高先增加后减小,在28 ℃时寻找效应最高,为0.535。加州新小绥螨的捕食作用存在较强的种内干扰作用（m=0.520）,随着捕食者密度的增大,平均捕食量逐渐减少,捕食作用率也相应降低。研究表明加州新小绥螨对土耳其斯坦叶螨具有很好的控制潜力。     

Impact of phosphine exposure on development in Caenorhabditis elegans: Involvement of oxidative stress and the role of glutathione

Phosphine (PH₃) is a widely used and ideal fumigant employed to control insect pests in stored grains and other commodities. Chemically, PH₃ is a strong reducing agent and mainly affects the mitochondrial transport system in insects. PH₃ toxicity to insects is also associated with oxidative imbalances. Besides inducing mortality, PH₃ is shown to delay hatching and adversely affect fecundity/fertility of several stored product insect pests. Recent studies have demonstrated the utility of Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism to obtain basic insights on the toxic implications of PH₃. In the present study, we have examined the impact of PH₃ on the development of C. elegans and the involvement of glutathione (GSH) in its developmental toxicity. We exposed eggs of C. elegans to two concentrations of PH₃ (0.04 and 0.06 mg/L) either in the presence or absence of a GSH depleting agent, diethyl maleate (DEM, 5 mM) for 72 h. PH₃ exposure caused significant delay in the post embryonic development among worms as characterized by the inability of hatched worms to attain gravid adult stage by the end of 72 h. Interestingly, among worms co-exposed to DEM + PH₃, the decrease in GSH levels was associated with more pronounced developmental delay compared to that of worms exposed to PH₃per se. Concomitantly, PH₃-induced depletion of glutathione was associated with significant alterations in activities of key antioxidant enzymes. Our data demonstrate the vital role of GSH and antioxidant defenses among worms developing under PH₃ exposure. Interestingly, this finding also unfolds newer possibilities for developing strategies to disrupt antioxidant defenses in insect pests to enhance the efficacy of PH₃ treatment for the control of stored product insects.     

Effect of Melia azedarach extract on the activity of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cholinesterase in insects

The effect of Melia azedarach extract on the activity of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cholinesterase was studied in Spodoptera frugiperda. Larvae were fed an artificial diet containing fruit extract and their midgut was used for enzyme determination. As compared to the control, consumption of the extract containing diet resulted in a 31% inhibition of the cholinesterase activity and a 34% activation of the NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity. In the cockroach Leucophaea maderae, the effect on reductase activity was even more pronounced (43%).     

渐狭蜡蚧菌Lecanicillium attenuatum产几丁质酶的活性及对南方根结线虫卵孵化的抑制作用

为探究卵寄生真菌产生的几丁质酶对南方根结线虫卵孵化的抑制作用,采用分离自黑龙江大豆孢囊线虫孢囊上的菌株CGMCC5328,利用NAG和pNP法测定其几丁质降解酶系和外切酶的活性,分析几丁质酶粗酶液对南方根结线虫卵的孵化抑制效果.结果表明,菌株CGMCC5328经形态学和ITS序列分析鉴定为渐狭蜡蚧菌Lecanicillium attenuatum;在几丁质酶诱导培养基中培养第4天时其分泌的几丁质降解酶系达酶活高峰,为16.90 U/mL;第6天外切酶达酶活高峰,为0.59 U/mL,之后酶活趋于稳定持续至第14天;几丁质酶分子量分别为79.6、65.6、54.1、42.1和32.9 kDa;其中培养第7天的几丁质酶粗酶原液对南方根结线虫卵孵化的抑制率为83.17%;第6天菌株CGMCC5328对卵的寄生率为85.10%.表明高效产几丁质酶的卵寄生真菌渐狭蜡蚧菌菌株CGMCC5328对南方根结线虫卵孵化具有明显的抑制效果.     

几种代谢酶基因与柑橘全爪螨对双甲脒抗性的关系

为了明确羧酸酯酶(carboxylesterase,CarE)基因、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(glutathione S-transferases,GST)基因和过氧化氢酶(catalase,CAT)基因与柑橘全爪螨Panonychus citri对双甲脒抗性的关系,通过BLAST检索,从柑橘全爪螨转录组数据库中对这3种代谢酶抗性相关基因进行鉴定,并采用RPKM法对双甲脒抗性品系和敏感品系代谢抗性相关基因进行表达差异分析,对差异较大的基因作定量PCR检测.基因差异性分析发现,抗性品系中有9条CarE基因、12条GST基因及6条CAT基因表达量发生上调,13条CarE基因、12条GST基因和3条CAT基因表达量发生下调;Pc29773nrt、Pcl7807nlg和Unigene31477为上调倍数最高的3个基因,其log2 ratio (RS/SS)分别为12.95、10.81、10.01.定量分析显示,Pc29773 nrt、Pcl7807nlg和Unigene31477的上调倍数分别为3.72、2.03和3.09,Pc29773 nrt和Unigene31477上调显著.研究表明柑橘全爪螨Pc29773nrt和Unigene31477上调与其对双甲脒的抗性相关.     

苏云金杆菌亚致死浓度对美国白蛾及其寄生蜂生长发育的影响

为阐明苏云金杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)与白蛾周氏啮小蜂Chouioia cunea Yang的协同作用,分别用103~108孢子/m L的6个Bt浓度处理美国白蛾Hyphantria cunea 2龄幼虫后,通过室内试验测定了Bt对其致死、亚致死效应,及亚致死浓度Bt对寄生蜂子代出蜂的影响。结果表明,浓度106孢子/m L处理组美国白蛾均未能化蛹;而106孢子/m L处理组均能化蛹并羽化,且幼虫发育历期随Bt浓度的增加而延长,平均蛹重在74.92~92.18 mg之间,均高于对照的68.66 mg,但蛹重不呈线性规律变化。当Bt对美国白蛾平均校正死亡率低于17.17%时,幼虫发育历期延迟不明显,但平均蛹重为101.11~124.34 mg,均高于对照;接蜂后能够正常出蜂,出蜂率为33.13%~51.25%,每蛹出蜂量为117.43~143.42头,均显著高于对照。表明用平均校正死亡率低于20%的Bt处理对白蛾周氏啮小蜂的寄生有利,2种生防措施协同作用存在增效潜力。     

两株棒束孢菌的鉴定及其对茶卷叶蛾和茶小卷叶蛾的致病力

为明确分离自茶卷叶蛾和中华大刀螳僵虫的2株虫生真菌的归属及生防潜力,采用形态学特征和rDNA-ITS序列分析其分类地位,测定了其对茶卷叶蛾和茶小卷叶蛾幼虫的致病力,并初步筛选了其最适培养条件.结果表明:2株真菌均为环链棒束孢Isaria cateniannulata,分别命名为ICBS918和ICTL911.在1.0×10⁸孢子/mL浓度下,ICBS918和ICTL911对茶卷叶蛾幼虫的累计校正死亡率均达100%,LT₅₀分别为3.13 d和3.15 d;对茶小卷叶蛾幼虫的累计校正死亡率分别为100%和95%,LT₅₀分别为3.25 d和3.31 d.接菌后8 d,2菌株对茶卷叶蛾幼虫的LC₅₀分别为0.47×10⁵孢子/mL和1.01×10⁵孢子/mL;对茶小卷叶蛾幼虫的LC₅₀分别为2.20×10⁵孢子/mL和1.34×10⁵孢子/mL.2菌株23 ℃下最适生长培养基均为综合马铃薯培养基,最适产孢培养基均为蛋白胨马铃薯葡萄糖琼脂培养基;在萨氏培养基上,菌株ICBS918和ICTL911分别在24~30 ℃及24 ℃时生长速度最快,在27 ℃和21 ℃时产孢量最大.表明2株环链棒束孢对茶卷叶蛾和茶小卷叶蛾幼虫均具有较好的生防潜力,可作为生防菌进行开发和应用.     

生防菌Alternaria amaranthi-3对反枝苋的防治效果

反枝苋Amaranthus retroflexus是一种世界性恶性杂草。为了确定微生物除草剂候选菌Alternaria amaranthi-3防除反枝苋的潜力,通过盆栽试验研究了接种浓度、露期和水乳剂型对A.ama-ranthi-3菌株致病力的影响。结果显示,接种浓度显著影响菌株的致病力,在48h露期条件下,接种孢子浓度为105个/mL时,菌株水剂对反枝苋幼苗生长抑制率为35.55%;浓度为107个/mL时,生长抑制率达到75.25%。露期对该菌株的致病力也有较大影响,在不保湿条件下,菌株水剂对反枝苋的生长抑制率为26.43%,而保湿48h处理的生长抑制率达到77.96%。Span80∶Tween80=1∶3的复配乳化剂和大豆油制备的水乳剂可显著降低露期对菌株防效的影响和提高菌株的致病力,无露期时,菌株水乳剂对反枝苋的生长抑制率达到88.35%,显著高于水剂;48h露期条件下,菌株水乳剂处理的生长抑制率为90.59%,而菌株水剂处理为77.96%。表明通过剂型的改进菌株Alternaria amaranthi-3能有效防除反枝苋。     

长枝木霉对禾谷胞囊线虫卵的寄生和毒杀作用及其机制

为了明确长枝木霉Trichoderma longibrachiatum对小麦禾谷胞囊线虫Heterodera avenae卵的防治潜力和作用机制,在室内测定了长枝木霉分生孢子悬浮液对小麦禾谷胞囊线虫卵的寄生和毒杀作用,并通过温室盆栽试验测定了长枝木霉分生孢子悬浮液对小麦禾谷胞囊线虫卵的防治效果.室内试验中1.5×107 CFU/mL的长枝木霉分生孢子悬浮液处理12 d对小麦禾谷胞囊线虫卵的寄生率和卵孵化的相对抑制率分别为91.33％和88.35％.温室盆栽试验中1.5×107 CFU/mL处理对土壤中胞囊、线虫和根系中线虫的相对防治效果分别为89.84％、92.67％和88.30％;接种卵悬浮液和长枝木霉分生孢子悬浮液后,小麦幼苗株高、根系长度、地上部鲜重和根系鲜重的增长率分别为66.72％、159.31％、169.09％和170.19％;叶绿素总量和根系活力显著高于对照,分别为17.52 mg/g和356.25 μg·g-1·h-1.研究表明长枝木霉可作为小麦禾谷胞囊线虫的生防制剂.     

Characterizations of general esterases in relation to malathion susceptibility in two field populations of the oriental migratory locust, Locusta migratoria manilensis (Meyen)

General esterases were characterized and compared from two populations of the oriental migratory locust, Locusta migratoria manilensis, collected from Huanghua and Pingshan Counties, Hebei Province, China. General esterases were most concentrated in the thorax and abdomen, which contained 46.1 and 36.1% of total esterase activity in females, and 42.7 and 36.0% in males, respectively, when α-naphthyl acetate was used as a substrate. There was no distinct difference in esterase banding patterns in different body regions for the substrates α-naphthyl acetate and β-naphthyl acetate on non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). However, the general esterase activities in the Huanghua population were 1.8-fold higher than those in the Pingshan population in both females and males. Increased esterase activity in the Huanghua population appeared to be mainly due to several additional esterase bands detected on non-denaturing PAGE. Inhibition studies of general esterases using four inhibitors, including paraoxon, malaoxon, eserine, and carbaryl, indicated that most general esterases in the two populations were B-type. The increased esterase activity in the Huanghua population appeared to be associated with a 1.8-fold decreased susceptibility to malathion. Such differences may attribute to the difference in control practices for the locust between Huanghua and Pingshan Counties.     

小菜蛾感染玫烟色棒束孢后的病征及组织病理变化

为了明确玫烟色棒束孢对小菜蛾的致病作用,分别以1×10⁵孢子/mL和1×10⁸孢子/mL浓度的玫烟色棒束孢菌株EBCL03011孢子悬浮液感染小菜蛾幼虫,观察了感病幼虫体表和体内器官组织的病变情况。结果显示,感病虫体颜色由局部浅褐色逐渐变为大面积深褐色,病虫出现缩短、强直等外部形态的变化。组织切片观察显示,接种后4 h,附着于体壁的分生孢子开始萌发入侵;16 h后,小菜蛾内表皮被分解,菌丝段进入血腔。与此同时,被幼虫取食进入消化道的分生孢子也增殖产生菌丝段,以菌丝段突破肠壁细胞,向附近的脂肪体入侵;随着玫烟色棒束孢继续在虫体内增殖,24 h后各组织器官遭到不同程度破坏;48 h后,感病幼虫死亡,虫尸体内的菌丝突破体表,在虫体外形成菌丝层。表明玫烟色棒束孢入侵小菜蛾有两条途径,第1条为体表途径,第2条为消化道途径。     

四种熏蒸剂对辣椒疫霉和南方根结线虫的毒力

为明确不同熏蒸剂对土传病原菌辣椒疫霉Phytophthora capsici和南方根结线虫Meloidogyne incognita的毒力,采用密闭熏蒸法测定了4种土壤熏蒸剂氯化苦、棉隆、威百亩、1,3-二氯丙烯的毒力及1,3-二氯丙烯和氯化苦复配的联合毒力。结果表明:氯化苦、棉隆、威百亩、1,3-二氯丙烯对辣椒疫霉的EC₅₀分别为0.12、2.44、8.30、8.45 mg/L; 对南方根结线虫的EC₅₀ 分别为1.23、0.22、0.30、0.18 mg/L。1,3-二氯丙烯和氯化苦以2:1、1:1、1:2比例复配时对辣椒疫霉的EC₅₀ 分别为1.13、0.24、0.14 mg/L;对南方根结线虫的EC₅₀分别为0.19、0.32、0.61 mg/L。结合经济效益和多种病害兼治的原则,推荐使用1,3-二氯丙烯与氯化苦1:1配比,可兼治辣椒疫病和根结线虫病。     

Effects of the synergist S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate on indoxacarb toxicity and metabolism in the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner)

The toxicity of the oxadiazine insecticide indoxacarb to the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), was evaluated in the presence and absence of S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF), an inhibitor of hydrolytic metabolism. Bioassays involving topical application of different concentrations of indoxacarb to third instars of a susceptible O. nubilalis laboratory strain were performed, and in vitro metabolism experiments involving [¹⁴C] indoxacarb were examined to determine the role of hydrolytic metabolism in indoxacarb activation. Indoxacarb toxicity decreased in the presence of DEF indicating antagonism of toxicity. Results of in vivo and in vitro inhibition experiments indicated a reduction of indoxacarb activation and formation of the hydrolytic metabolite. These results are consistent with the proposed mechanism of hydrolytic activation for this compound.     

Mosquito larvicidal activity of alkaloids from Zanthoxylum lemairei against the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae

Four alkaloids, 10-O-demethyl-17-O-methylisoarnottianamide 1, 6-acetonyl-N-methyl-dihydrodecarine 2, nitidine 3, and chelerythrine 4 were isolated from the plant Zanthoxylum lemairei (Rutaceae) and evaluated for mosquito larvicidal activity against the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. The mortalities of the larvae were determined after 24 h. The results of the larvicidal tests demonstrated that compounds 1 and 2 were the most potent with mortality rates of 96.7% and 98.3% at a concentration of 250 mg/L, respectively. Compound 3 was less potent with a mortality of 28.3% at the same concentration. The percent mortality of 100% was observed at a concentration of 500 mg/L. The least potent of the four alkaloids was compound 4, which achieved 100% mortality at 1000 mg/L. These findings could be useful in the research for newer more selective, biodegradable and natural larvicidal compounds or can be used as lead compounds for the development of larvicides.