title: Fate of Ingested Aristolactams from Aristolochia chilensis in Battus polydamas archidamas (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae).
abstract: We performed a sequestration study of aristolactams (ALs) from Aristolochia chilensis in Battus polydamas archidamas (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) by examining the AL content of the plant, fifth instar larvae, osmeterial secretion, pupae, exuviae and feces. Aristolactam-I (AL-I) and aristolactam-II (AL-II) present in A. chilensis are sequestered by fifth instar larvae of B. polydamas archidamas. There is a preferential sequestration of AL-II, or a more efficient metabolization and excretion of AL-I, by the larva. No ALs were found in the osmeterial secretion, pupae and exuviae; in addition, little AL-I and no AL-II were found in larval frass. The two lactams, particularly AL-I, are extensively metabolized to other products in the larva. A reasonable hypothesis is that the ingested ALs are oxidized to their respective aristolochic acids.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Casilla 40, Correo 33, Santiago 9170022, Chile. alejandro.urzua@usach.cl.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urzúa
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Casilla 40, Correo 33, Santiago 9170022, Chile. angel.olguin@usach.cl.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olguín
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Casilla 40, Correo 33, Santiago 9170022, Chile. rocio.santanderm@usach.cl.
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santander
keywords: Aristolochia chilensis; Battus polydamas archidamas; aristolactams; excretion; larvae; metabolization; sequestration