›› 2010, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (4): 391-395.doi:

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Insecticidal activity of bullatacin against Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) and the induced apoptosis to SL cells

CUI Jiang-Hu, WU Ping, WEI Xiao-Yi, ZHANG Zhi-Xiang, XU Han-Hong   

  • Online:2010-06-08 Published:2010-04-20

Abstract: In order to ascertain the insecticidal activity and probe into the insecticidal mechanism about bullatacin, we studied the biological activity against Spodoptera litura larvae by bullatacin with leaf feeding method, and observed the cytotoxicity to S. litura ovary cells (SL cells) using MTT method. Meanwhile, we detected cell apoptosis and the change of mitochondrial membrane potential of SL cells by flow cytometer. The results indicated that bullatacin had the antifeedant activity against the 2nd and 3rd instar larvae of S. litura. The AFC50 values were 60.25 μg/mL and 86.73 μg/mL, respectively. This compound also had strong inhibitive activity on the growth of S. litura larvae. The IC50 values on SL cells at 24 and 48 h post treatment were 22.32 μg/mL and 10.03 μg/mL, respectively. Observations by flow cytometer showed that bullatacin induced apoptosis and the decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential in SL cells. The results suggest that bullatacin possesses the antifeedant activity and has strong inhibitive activity on the growth of S. litura larvae. In addition, it can inhibit the proliferation, induce the cell apoptosis and decrease the mitochondrial membrane potential in SL cells. Therefore, bullatacin has a good research and application prospect.

Key words: Spodoptera litura, bullatacin, ovary cell, SL cell, antifeedant activity, cell apoptosis