Insecticidal activity of huperzine A from the New Zealand clubmoss, Lycopodium varium.
A bioactivity-directed investigation of an extract of the New Zealand clubmoss, Lycopodium varium, collected on subantarctic Campbell Island, has led to the isolation of the alkaloid huperzine A (1) as the major antifeedant and insecticidal component. Huperzine A showed insecticidal activity against the Australian carpet beetle, Anthrenocerus australis (LD(50) = 110 ppm), the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina (LD(50) = 2380 ppm), and the webbing clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella (LD(50) = 630 ppm). Feeding by A. australis was reduced by 97% at 63 ppm.
Ainge
Gary D
GD
Plant Extracts Research Unit, New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research Ltd., Departmnt of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Lorimer
Stephen D
SD
Gerard
Philippa J
PJ
Ruf
Leslie D
LD
D000470:Alkaloids; D000818:Animals; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001517:Coleoptera; D004175:Diptera; D007306:Insecticides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D029542:Lycopodiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D009036:Moths; D009520:New Zealand; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D000470:Alkaloids; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007306:Insecticides; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C050426:huperzine A