Rocaglamide, a natural benzofuran insecticide from Aglaia odorata

Abstract

Rocaglamide, a highly substituted benzofuran, was isolated and identified as the active insecticidal constituent in the twigs of the Chinese rice flower bush, Aglaia odorata. This compound inhibits larval growth and is insecticidal to both variegated cutworms, Peridroma saucia and Asian armyworms, Spodoptera litura. LD 50 values for fourth-instar P. saucia larvae were found to be 0.32 μg larvae −1 topically and 0.34 μg larvae −1 orally. Dammarane triterpenes and aminopyrrolidine bis-amides such as odorinol isolated from A. odorata were inactive against P. saucia.