Larvicidal activity of para-Benzoquinones

Capa:Larvicidal activity of para-Benzoquinones

Autor(es): De Sousa, Damiao P.; Vieira, Ygor W.; Uliana, Marciana P.; Melo, Manuela A.; Brocksom, Timothy J.; Cavalcanti, Socrates C. H.


Resumo: Plant products may be alternative sources of mosquito larval control agents, since they constitute a rich source of bioactive compounds that are biodegradable into nontoxic products. It has been reported that quinones and derivatives present toxic activity against mosquito larvae Aedes aegypti. Therefore, these facts led us to investigate the larvicidal potential of six structurally related para-benzoquinones against A. aegypti L. (Culicidae) larvae, the vector of dengue fever. All the para-benzoquinones were found to have larvicidal effect. The unsubstituted para-benzoquinone was the compound that exhibited the lowest potency, while 2-isopropyl-para-benzoquinone was the most bioactive. In general, the presence of alkyl groups results in more potent compounds. In addition, the number, position, and size of these groups modulate the potency of the compounds. The experimental results showed that by appropriate structural modification of para-benzoquinones, it may be possible to develop novel insecticidal compounds with potential use to control A. aegypti population.


Palavras-Chave: Insect larvae; Pesticides; Larvae; Metabolites; Pest control; Hosts; Bioactive compounds; Public health; Dengue; Quinone; Vectors; Biodegradability; Aedes aegypti; Culicidae


Imprenta: Parasitology Research, v. 107, n. 3, p. 741-745, 2010.


Descritores: Aedes aegypti - Cell ; Aedes aegypti - Dengue ; Aedes aegypti - Public health


Data de publicação: 2010