PT Journal
AU Nirma, C
   Rodrigues, A
   Basset, C
   Chevolot, L
   Girod, R
   Moretti, C
   Stien, D
   Dusfour, I
   Eparvier, V
TI Larvicidal activity of isoflavonoids from Muellera frutescens extracts against Aedes aegypti
SO Natural Product Communications
PY 2012
BP 1319
EP 1322
VL 7
IS 10
DI 10.1021/np4001703
DE Aedes aegypti; French Guiana; Insecticides; Isoflavonoids; Muellera frutescens
AB The biological activity of extracts from the leaves, bark and roots of Muellera frutescens, an Amazonian ichtyotoxic plant, were evaluated to find new environmentally safe insecticides. The n-hexane extracts of bark, leaf, and root showed a strong toxic activity against Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae. Bioguided fractionation of the bark extract led to the isolation of seven isoflavonoids (12a-hydroxyelliptone, elliptone, (-)-variabilin, rotenone, rotenolone, tephrosin and deguelin). Rotenone and deguelin are responsible for the larvicidal activity of the plant. M. frutescens leaves contain up to 0.6%, w/w, deguelin. These results justify the traditional ichtyotoxic use of M. frutescens. The leaves contain a relatively high proportion of deguelin and, therefore, can be considered as a renewable source of this environmentally friendly insecticidal isoflavonoid.
ER