Chemical constituents from the roots of Periploca sepium with insecticidal activity

Abstract

Five compounds were isolated from the root powder of Periploca sepium. By mainly HR-ESI-MS, ¹H, ¹³C, and 2D NMR spectral data, they were characterized as periplocoside X (1), oligasaccharide A (2), periplocoside A (3), periplocoside E (4), and periplocoside N (5), respectively. Compounds 1–5 were found to possess insecticidal activities against the red imported fire ant. Among the compounds, periplocoside X showed significant activity with LD₅₀ values of 748.99, 116.62, 2169.58, and 3079.33mg/l against soldiers, workers, males, and alate females of red imported fire ant, respectively.

Keywords:

• Periploca sepium
• the red imported fire ant
• insecticidal activity
• periplocoside X

Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to the Scientific and Technological Plan of Guangdong Province for its financial support to the present research (2009B050400004). We are also grateful to Prof. Josep Coll from the Institute of Chemistry and Environment in Barcelona, CSIC, Spain, for his guidance and help in the compound identification.