title: Iridoid glucosides with insecticidal activity from Galium melanantherum.
abstract: The insecticidal activity of the endemic species Galium melanantherum was evaluated against Crematogaster scutellaris ants and Kalotermes flavicollis termites. Iridoid glucosides 1-7 were isolated for the first time as metabolites of the investigated plant, along with the coumarin scopolin. The main components of the extract were found to be the non-acetylated iridoids: geniposidic acid (1), 10-hydroxyloganin (2), deacetyldaphylloside (3), monotropein (4), deacetylasperulosidic acid (5) and scandoside (6), while asperulosidic acid (7) was present only in minute quantities. All isolated metabolites were identified on the basis of their spectral data. Laboratory bioassays revealed significant levels of toxicity for 1-4 against Kalotermes flavicollis termites and Crematogaster scutellaris ants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 157 71 Athens, Greece. tzakou@pharm.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tzakou
authors.forename: Philippos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mylonas
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vagias
authors.forename: Panos V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Petrakis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000187:drug effects; D032061:Galium / Q000737:chemistry*; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000187:drug effects; D007306:Insecticides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D039823:Iridoids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020049:Isoptera / Q000187:drug effects; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D039823:Iridoids