Antitermite activity of beta-caryophyllene epoxide and episulfide.
Caryophyllene-6,7-epoxide and caryophyllene-6,7-episulfide can be easily synthesized from beta-caryophyllene by autoxidation or episulfidation. The bioactivities of beta-caryophyllene and its derivatives were investigated against the subterranean termite Reticulitermes speratus Kolbe. The antifeedant, feeding, and termiticidal activities of each compound were tested using no-choice, dual-choice, and non-contact methods. Antitermitic activities were not shown by beta-caryophyllene, but were observed for the oxide and sulfide derivatives. Caryophyllene-6,7-episulfide showed especially high antifeedant and termiticidal activities. Thus, naturally abundant, non-bioactive beta-caryophyllene can be easily converted into an antitermite reagent via a non-biological process.
Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, 1-23 Wakaba-machi, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-8555, Japan. ashitani@tdsl.tr.yamagata-u.ac.jp
Tatsuya
T
Ashitani
Norihisa
N
Kusumoto
Anna-Karin
AK
Borg-Karlson
Koki
K
Fujita
Koetsu
K
Takahashi
D000818:Animals; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D020049:Isoptera / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013440:Sulfides; C024714:caryophyllene