title: First results on the insecticidal action of saponins.
abstract: In the search for new, natural insecticides, numerous scientists are currently trying to obtain useful compound from plants. A possibly interesting class of molecules are the saponins, a group of steroidal or triterpenoidal secondary plant metabolites with divergent biological activities. In this study, we investigated the activity of saponins against living caterpillars Spodoptera littoralis) and aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) via treatment on artificial diets containing different concentrations of saponins. We conclude that saponins have insecticidal activity, causing mortality and/or growth inhibition in the tested insects, although from our experiments the mode of action could not be identified.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, BE-9000 Gent, Belgium. ellen.degeyter@ugent.be
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Geyter
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Geelen
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smagghe
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D001681:Biological Assay; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D012503:Saponins