Antifeedant activity of fruit and seed extracts ofMelia azedarach andazadirachta indica on larvae ofSesamia nonagrioides

Methanolic extracts of seeds and fruits of the chinaberry tree,Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae), showed strong antifeedant activity against 2nd instar larvae ofSesamia nonagrioides Lefèbvre (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a very serious pest of maize(Zea mays L.) in Mediterranean countries. Extracts were applied in an artificial diet at concentrations of 1000 and 2000 ppm. The parameters used to evaluate the activity were larval growth rates; quantity of food ingested; phagodepression/phagostimulation index; quantity of frass produced; quantity of material ingested; duration of larval development; and cumulative mortality. Seed extract showed high bioactivity at both doses, while fruit extract proved to be less active, and only at the higher dose used (2000 ppm) did it display a slight antifeedant activity. The activity of theM. azedarach seed extract at the higher dose (2000 ppm) was comparable to that of pure azadirachtin applied at a dose of 1.25 ppm, or to ‘Mubel’, a commercial extract ofAzadirachta indica A. Juss. (Meliaceae), applied at a dose of 75 ppm.     

草原沙葱萤叶甲发生趋势及植物源农药田间防治效果

为分析沙葱萤叶甲发生趋势,筛选出具有较好防治效果的药剂,对沙葱萤叶甲在内蒙古草原的为害进行了监测,并以幼虫为试虫,采用大型喷雾机械对3种常用植物源农药进行了防效试验。结果表明,0.3%印楝素乳油、1.3%苦参碱水剂及1.2%烟碱·苦参碱乳油在制剂用量30mL/667m2条件下,药后3、5d及10d对沙葱萤叶甲的防治效果为85.5%~100.0%,与4.5%高效氯氰菊酯水乳剂相比差异不显著(P0.05)。沙葱萤叶甲在内蒙古的为害呈加重趋势,在甘肃、宁夏、新疆等地发生可能性大,应加强实时监测。印楝素、苦参碱和烟碱·苦参碱对沙葱萤叶甲防治效果好,在草原沙葱萤叶甲绿色防控上具有很高的推广价值。     

印楝素A和印楝素B生物活性比较

对印楝素A和印楝素B的生物活性进行了研究。在3μg/mL的剂量下处理后24 h,印楝素A和印楝素B对小菜蛾3龄幼虫的拒食率分别为85.3%和80.4%;在5μg/mL的剂量下处理后24 h,对棉铃虫3龄幼虫的拒食率分别为94.9%和80.2%。处理后72 h,印楝素A和印楝素B对斜纹夜蛾3龄幼虫的LC₅₀分别为1.0μg/mL和3.3μg/mL。印楝素A和印楝素B在3μg/mL的剂量下处理后72 h,小菜蛾3龄幼虫的死亡率分别为90.42%和84.11%;在5μg/mL的剂量下处理后72 h,棉铃虫3龄幼虫的死亡率分别为99.1%和100.0%;在0.5μg/mL的剂量下处理后72 h,斜纹夜蛾4龄幼虫体重降低率分别为57.5%和72.73%;在0.8μg/mL的剂量下处理后72 h,棉铃虫3龄幼虫体重降低率分别为84.1%和80.9%。     

紫外光对印楝素A及同系物降解的影响

研究了紫外照射对印楝素A、6-deacetylnimbin、6-deacetylsalannin、nimbin和salannin 5种同系物稳定性的影响,结果表明,在紫外光持续照射48 h后印楝素A及同系物已基本完全降解,降解率基本达到99%以上.说明印楝素A及同系物属于很容易降解的物质.     

水分影响印楝素及同系物降解动力学研究

研究水分对印楝素 A、6-deacetylnimbin、6-deacetylsalannin、nimbin和salannin 5 种同系物稳定性的影响，并建立水分影响印楝素及同系物降解动力学模型。结果表明，水能加快印楝素A及同系物的降解，且降解率随着水分含量的增加而增大。     

高效毛细管电泳法检测印楝素A的初步研究

从理论角度分析了高效毛细管电泳技术检测印楝素A的可能性，并以试验进行证明。在十二烷基硫酸钠（SDS）浓度为25mmol／L、0．02mol／LpH值6．86混合磷酸盐缓冲溶液，甲醇-缓冲溶液（体积比7：3）作为运行缓冲液，分离电压20kV下得到稳定的电流曲线，二极管阵列检测器（PDA）检测波长214nm，在迁移时间2．6min处检测到印楝素A的电泳特征峰，电泳谱图面积积分结果和高效液相色谱分析结果无显著差异。     

Acaricidal effects of cardiac glycosides, azadirachtin and neem oil against the camel tick, Hyalomma dromedarii (Acari: Ixodidae)

The cardiac glycoside, digitoxin, from Digitalis purpurea L (Scrophulariaceae), a cardiac glycosidal (cardenolide) extract from Calotropis procera (Ait) R Br (Asclepiadaceae), azadirachtin and neem oil from Azadirachta indica A Juss (Meliaceae) were tested for their effects against larvae and adult stages of the camel tick, Hyalomma dromedarii Koch (Acari: Ixodidae). The contact LC50 values of the first three materials against adults were 4.08, 9.63 and >40.7 microg cm(-2), respectively, whereas the dipping LC50 values of the four materials were 409.9, 1096, >5000 and >5000 mg litre(-1), respectively. Contact and dipping LC50 values of the extract and azadirachtin against larvae were 6.16, >20.3 microg cm(-2) and 587.7 and >2500 mg litre(-1), respectively. Azadirachtin had no effects on egg production or feeding of adults up to 5000 mg litre(-1); however at 2500 mg litre(-1), it caused significant reduction in feeding activity of larve, prolonged the period for moulting to nymphal stage, and caused 60% reduction in moultability. Results of the two cardiac glycoside materials are comparable with those of several commercial acaricides. The risks and benefits associated with the use of cardiac glycosides are considered.     

The effects of phytochemical pesticides on the growth of cultured invertebrate and vertebrate cells

A range of cultured cells of invertebrate and vertebrate origin was grown in the presence of a number of phytochemical pesticides to test the effect of the latter on cell proliferation. The main observation was that azadirachtin was a potent inhibitor of insect cell replication, with an EC50 of 1.5 x 10(10) M against Spodoptera cells and of 6.3 x 10(9) M against Aedes albopictus cells, whilst affecting mammalian cells only at high concentrations (> 10(-4) M). As expected, the other phytochemical pesticides, except for rotenone, had little effect on the growth of the cultured cells. Rotenone was highly effective in inhibiting the growth of insect cells (EC50:10(-8) M) but slightly less toxic towards mammalian cells (EC50:2 x 10(-7) M). Neem terpenoids other than azadirachtin and those very similar in structure significantly inhibited growth of the cell cultures, but to a lesser degree. The major neem seed terpenoids, nimbin and salannin, for example, inhibited insect cell growth by 23% and 15%, respectively.     

The antifeedant effect of neem seed kernel extract and azadirachtin on nymphs ofEyprepocnemis plorans

Acridids belonging to different species and families exhibit large differences in their response to neem components. In this context the antifeedant effect of a methanolic neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) and of azadirachtin (AZA) on fourth-instar nymphs of the acrididEyprepocnemis plorans Charpentier (Saltatoria:Acrididae) was investigated. Nymphs were offered either saccharose-impregnated filter paper disks or leaves of broad beans, treated with neem components. The amount of substrate consumed was determined by weighing the filter paper or by measuring the leaf area. On filter paper both NSKE and AZA were highly active down to the 10⁻⁴% treatment. In the leaf treatment, however, AZA was definitely more active than NSKE, with 100% deterrence at 10⁻⁴% and 10⁻²%, respectively. The methanolic NSKE was somewhat more active than the commercial preparation ‘Neemark’.     

The commercial use of azadirachtin and its integration into viable pest control programmes

With the continued robust growth of the global biopesticide market, azadirachtin is uniquely positioned to become a key insecticide to expand in this market segment. In the USA the actual or impending cancellation of some organophosphate and carbamate insecticides that have either lost patent protection or are not being re-registered in many markets because of the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996, has opened new opportunities for biopesticides and reduced-risk pesticides in general. The broad-spectrum activity of azadirachtin at low use rates (12·5 to 40 g AI ha^-1) coupled with the insect growth regulator activity (in all larval/nymphal instars including the pupal stage) and unique mode of action (ecdysone disruptor), make azadirachtin an ideal candidate for insecticide resistance, integrated pest control and organic pest control programmes. Azadirachtin has been exempted from residue tolerance requirements by the US Environmental Protection Agency for food crop applications. Azadirachtin exhibits good efficacy against key pests such as whiteflies, leafminers, fungus gnats, thrips, aphids and many leaf-eating caterpillars. Azadirachtin has minimal to no impact on non-target organisms, is compatible with other biological control agents and has a good fit into classical Integrated Pest Management programmes. The world's largest azadirachtin extraction facility has been fully commissioned in India to process over 10,000 tonnes neem seeds per annum. This will ensure the wide availability of azadirachtin technical grade material in the future. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry.