Studies on the insecticidal activity, cytogenecity and metabolism of fatty acid rich fraction of Hydnocarpus laurifolia

Abstract

The fatty acid rich fraction obtained from the petroleum ether extractable portion of Hydnocarpus laurifolia (PHL) seeds exhibited significant insecticidal action on rice bug, Leptocorisa acuta (LC₅₀ 8 mg/mL). Analysis of the fatty acid content of PHL by GC/MS showed that it contained chaulmoogric acid, hydnocarpic acid, gorlic acid, lignoceric acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid and stearic acid. Among these fatty acids chaulmoogric acid and hydnocarpic acid were present in highest amount. The PHL showed no genotoxic effect in bone marrow erythrocytes of Swiss mice as compared with methyl methane sulfonate. Metabolism of PHL was evaluated by monitoring the activities of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and on comparison with malathion (a synthetic pesticide) revealed that PHL was found to be metabolized and excreted from the body of Sprague-Dawley rats within 72 h of exposure.

Keywords:

• Hydnocarpus laurifolia
• Leptocorisa acuta
• malathion
• PHL
• micronucleus test
• cytochrome P450