Ribavirin, a nucleoside with potential insecticidal activity.
BACKGROUND
The triazole-based antiviral nucleoside ribavirin exhibited significant in vitro insecticidal effects against Spodoptera litura, a finding that has prompted further investigations into its in vivo insecticidal properties and mode of action against this insect pest.


RESULTS
Ribavirin showed delayed insecticidal effects on third-instar larvae of S. litura at a concentration of 1 mg mL(-1) . When incorporated into an artificial diet, ribavirin caused various effects, depending on the concentration used. Compared with controls, food intake was lower, larval growth was reduced and larval development prolonged. Pupae weight was reduced, and adult morphology was also affected. Relative to the untreated group, treated groups showed higher mortality at larval and pupal stages, which was generally caused by moult disruption. Results of this study with ribavirin resemble those found in treatment with insect growth regulators.


CONCLUSIONS
This work shows that ribavirin merits further study as a lead compound in a novel class of potential insect control agents or for managing field populations of Lepidoptera pests on cruciferous crops.
School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, PR China. yqliu@lzu.edu.cn
Ying-Qian
YQ
Liu
Jing
J
Zhang
Gang
G
Feng
Lin-Hai
LH
Li
Liu
L
Yang
Liang
L
Kou
D000818:Animals; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D007300:Insect Control; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D011679:Pupa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology
D007306:Insecticides; D012254:Ribavirin