Larvicidal activity of para-benzoquinones.
Plant products may be alternative sources of mosquito larval control agents, since they constitute a rich source of bioactive compounds that are biodegradable into nontoxic products. It has been reported that quinones and derivatives present toxic activity against mosquito larvae Aedes aegypti. Therefore, these facts led us to investigate the larvicidal potential of six structurally related para-benzoquinones against A. aegypti L. (Culicidae) larvae, the vector of dengue fever. All the para-benzoquinones were found to have larvicidal effect. The unsubstituted para-benzoquinone was the compound that exhibited the lowest potency, while 2-isopropyl-para-benzoquinone was the most bioactive. In general, the presence of alkyl groups results in more potent compounds. In addition, the number, position, and size of these groups modulate the potency of the compounds. The experimental results showed that by appropriate structural modification of para-benzoquinones, it may be possible to develop novel insecticidal compounds with potential use to control A. aegypti population.
De Sousa
Damião P
DP
Laboratório de Química de Produtos Naturais e Sintéticos Bioativos (LAPROBIO), Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil. damiao_desousa@yahoo.com.br
Vieira
Ygor W
YW
Uliana
Marciana P
MP
Melo
Manuela A
MA
Brocksom
Timothy J
TJ
Cavalcanti
Sócrates C H
SC
D000330:Aedes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003715:Dengue / Q000635:transmission; D007303:Insect Vectors; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry
D016227:Benzoquinones; D007306:Insecticides; D010936:Plant Extracts