title: Activity of Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) and ricinine against the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and the symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus.
abstract: The focus of this study was the identification of compounds from plant extracts for use in crop protection. This paper reports on the toxic activity of fractions of leaf extracts of Ricinus communis L (Euphorbiaceae) and isolated active compounds in the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel and its symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus (Singer) Möller. The main compounds responsible for activity against the fungus and ant in leaf extracts of R communis were found to be fatty acids for the former and ricinine for the ants.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências da Natureza, Universidade Federal do Acre, CP 199, 69915-900-Rio Branco, AC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Fátima
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Bigi
authors.forename: Vera L V
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Torkomian
authors.forename: Suzanne T C S
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: de Groote
authors.forename: Maria José A
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hebling
authors.forename: Odair C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.forename: Fernando C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Pagnocca
authors.forename: João B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Paulo C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Maria Fátima G F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: da Silva
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000469:parasitology; D011728:Pyridones / Q000633:toxicity*; D012278:Ricinus / Q000633:toxicity*; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011728:Pyridones; C019550:ricinine