Millettia Pachycarpa Research Articles

Uncommon Millettia pachycarpa Benth poisoning: A case report.

Millettia pachycarpa Benth, rich in rotenone, can disrupt the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Ingestion may cause respiratory and central nervous system depression, and in severe cases, lead to death. This is the first detailed clinical case report of M. pachycarpa Benth poisoning, aiming to help systematization of diagnosis and treatment. An elderly male who lost consciousness for 3 hours after consuming the fruit of M. pachycarpa Benth. Arterial blood gas analysis indicated a significant decrease in pH, a sharp increase in lactate levels, and elevated CO2 partial pressure with normal O2 partial pressure. The patient was diagnosed with food intoxication by M. pachycarpa Benth, concomitant with aspiration pneumonia and distributive shock. The patient was given continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and invasive mechanical ventilation. The patient was successfully discharged after 5 days of hospitalization. Follow-up after 2 weeks showed no significant discomfort. Isolated CO2 retention without hypoxemia, significantly reduced pH, and markedly elevated lactate levels strongly suggest poisoning by M. pachycarpa Benth. CRRT and invasive mechanical ventilation are beneficial for patients. Early implementation of CRRT to remove toxins and early initiation of assisted ventilation to improve respiratory failure are recommended upon suspicion of the disease.

Novel Indole-Containing Hybrids Derived from Millepachine: Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Antitumor Mechanism Study.

Millepachine, a bioactive natural product isolated from the seeds of Millettia pachycarpa, is reported to display potential antitumor activity. In this study, novel indole-containing hybrids derived from millepachine were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antitumor activities. Among all the compounds, compound 14b exhibited the most potent cytotoxic activity against five kinds of human cancer cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 0.022 to 0.074 μM, making it almost 100 times more active than millepachine. Valuable structure-activity relationships (SARs) were obtained. Furthermore, the mechanism studies showed that compound 14b induced cell-cycle arrest at the G2/M phase by inhibiting tubulin polymerization and further induced cell apoptosis through reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) collapse. In addition, the low cytotoxicity toward normal human cells and equivalent sensitivity towards drug-resistant cells of compound 14b highlighted its potential for the development of antitumor drugs.

Antidiabetic and Cytotoxic Activities of Rotenoids and Isoflavonoids Isolated from Millettia pachycarpa Benth.

A phytochemical investigation of the root and leaf extracts of Millettia pachycarpa Benth resulted in the isolation and identification of 16 compounds, including six rotenoids (1–6) and 10 prenylated isoflavonoids (7–16). Compound 4 was isolated as a scalemic mixture, which was resolved by chiral HPLC to afford (−)-(6aS,12aS)-12a-hydroxy-α-toxicarol (4) and (+)–(6aR,12aR)-12a-hydroxy-α-toxicarol (4). (+)-(6aR,12aR)-Millettiapachycarpin (3) and (−)-(6aS,12aS)-12a-hydroxy-α-toxicarol (4) were isolated as new compounds. The absolute configuration of (−)-(6R)-pachycarotenoid (2), (+)–(6aR,12aR)-millettiapachycarpin (3), (−)-(6aS,12aS)-4 and (+)–(6aR,12aR)-12a-hydroxy-α-toxicarol (4), (+)-(6aS,12aS)-(5), and (−)-(6aS,12aS,2″R)-sumatrol (6) were identified by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data. (−)-(6aS,12aS,2″R)-Sumatrol (6) was also confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis using Cu–Kα radiation. Antidiabetic activities, including α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities, and cytotoxicities against lung cancer A549, colorectal cancer SW480, and leukemic K562 cells of some isolated compounds were evaluated. Of these, isolupalbigenin (11) exhibited the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value of 11.3 ± 0.2 μM, whereas the scalemic mixture of 12a-hydroxy-α-toxicarol (4) displayed the best α-amylase inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value of 106.9 ± 0.2 μM. Euchrenone b10 (15) exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against lung cancer A549, colorectal cancer SW480, and leukemic K562 cells, with IC50 values of 40.3, 39.1, and 15.1 μM, respectively. In addition, molecular docking simulations of α-glucosidase inhibition of the active compounds were studied.

Indigenous Community Fishing Practices in Nagaland, Eastern Indian Himalayas

The significance of indigenous knowledge under the current scenario of biodiversity imperilment is well-known since such knowledge is gained through continuous intergenerational observations of natural systems. In this study, we present a description of indigenous community fishing practices in Nagaland and investigate their relationship with the cultural and traditional aspects of the associated communities through oral interactions, questionnaires and as a participatory observer. We observed inter- and intra-community fishing in which the piscicidal plants Millettia pachycarpa and Derris elliptica (both Fabaceae) were used as fish poison. M. pachycarpa was commonly used in inter-community ‘fishing festivals’ since it is easily available, less laborious to collect and there are no reports of harm to the body in comparison to D. elliptica which causes allergy and/or dermatological effects. Indigenous community fishing is conducted to develop a sense of peaceful co-existence and prosperity within and among the neighboring communities. However, the increasing use of synthetic fish poisons has overlapped with the traditional practices of fishing, exerting pressure on the livelihoods and food security of the tribal populations while contributing to riverine ecosystem degradation. Formulation of policies banning synthetic fish poison, and judicious use of traditional piscicidal plant fishing is therefore recommended.

Transfer of Millettia pachycarpa and M. entadoides to Derris (Fabaceae), supported by morphological and molecular data

Derris Lour. and Millettia Wight & Arn. are two genera of the tribe Millettieae (Fabaceae). The biggest difference between the two genera is that Derris has indehiscent, thin and winged pods, while Millettia has dehiscent, compressed and wingless pods, but some exceptions also exist. Because of their tardily dehiscent, inflated and wingless pods, two Asian liana species, Millettia pachycarpa Benth. and M. entadoides Z. Wei, were previously placed in Millettia sect. Macrospermae Dunn. However, their vegetative and floral characters, as well as the shape of seeds match with those of Derris very well. Phylogenetic analyses based on three chloroplast markers (trnK/matK, trnL-F IGS, and psbA-trnH IGS), and nuclear ITS/5.8S showed that the two species are nested within Derris, and separate from other samples of Millettia species with strong support. Therefore, the two species should be transferred from Millettia to Derris to maintain the monophyly of the latter, which inevitably results in an emendation of the generic circumscription of Derris. Due to the existence of Derris pachycarpa Merr., the second earliest valid epithet “taiwaniana” should be used for this taxon when transfering Millettia pachycarpa Benth. to Derris. Thus, a new combination, Derris taiwaniana (Hayata) Z.Q. Song, is proposed here. Millettia entadoides Z. Wei is recombined as Derris entadoides (Z. Wei) Z.Q. Song. The floral morphology of D. entadoides is described here for the first time, and it is reported as a new record from Thailand in this study.

Benefit: Cost Ratio (BCR) analysis of Botanical extracts against Brown spot disease of rice caused by Helminthosporium oryzae (Breda de Haan)

Many investigations has been done on the efficacy of botanicals against various pest and diseases of crops but there is paucity of information on benefit cost ratio of their application. In the present study five indigenous botanicals extracts of Solanum incanum, Allium hookerii, Mariandra benghalensis and Flogacanthus thyrsiflorus, the indigenous plants of Manipur have been used against the brown spot disease of rice caused by Helminthosporium oryzae. The analysis of benefit cost ratio (BCR) recorded maximum value of BCR in Millettia pachycarpa (1.45:1) followed by Solanum incanum (1.36:1), Allium hookerii (1.33:1), Mariandra benghalensis (1.30:1) and Flogacanthus thyrsiflorus (1.26:1) and in Control (1.13:1). It was found that in treatment M. Pachycarpa an investment of Re.1.00 will generate a gross income of Rs.1.45 or net return (Rs.0.45) and net return for following treatment S. incanum (Rs. 0.36), A. hookerii (Rs.0.33), M. Benghalensis (Rs. 0.30) and F. thyrsiflorus (0.26) as compared to low net return in Control (Rs.0.13).

Analysis of Antimicrobial Peptide Metabolome of Bacterial Endophyte Isolated From Traditionally Used Medicinal Plant Millettia pachycarpa Benth.

Increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has posed a major health concern worldwide, and the addition of new antimicrobial agents is diminishing due to overexploitation of plants and microbial resources. Inevitably, alternative sources and new strategies are needed to find novel biomolecules to counter AMR and pandemic circumstances. The association of plants with microorganisms is one basic natural interaction that involves the exchange of biomolecules. Such a symbiotic relationship might affect the respective bio-chemical properties and production of secondary metabolites in the host and microbes. Furthermore, the discovery of taxol and taxane from an endophytic fungus, Taxomyces andreanae from Taxus wallachiana, has stimulated much research on endophytes from medicinal plants. A gram-positive endophytic bacterium, Paenibacillus peoriae IBSD35, was isolated from the stem of Millettia pachycarpa Benth. It is a rod-shaped, motile, gram-positive, and endospore-forming bacteria. It is neutralophilic as per Joint Genome Institute’s (JGI) IMG system analysis. The plant was selected based on its ethnobotany history of traditional uses and highly insecticidal properties. Bioactive molecules were purified from P. peoriae IBSD35 culture broth using 70% ammonium sulfate and column chromatography techniques. The biomolecule was enriched to 151.72-fold and the yield percentage was 0.05. Peoriaerin II, a highly potent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 was isolated. LC-MS sequencing revealed that its N-terminal is methionine. It has four negatively charged residues (Asp + Glu) and a total number of two positively charged residues (Arg + Lys). Its molecular weight is 4,685.13 Da. It is linked to an LC-MS/MS inferred biosynthetic gene cluster with accession number A0A2S6P0H9, and blastp has shown it is 82.4% similar to fusaricidin synthetase of Paenibacillus polymyxa SC2. The 3D structure conformation of the BGC and AMP were predicted using SWISS MODEL homology modeling. Therefore, combining both genomic and proteomic results obtained from P. peoriae IBSD35, associated with M. pachycarpa Benth., will substantially increase the understanding of antimicrobial peptides and assist to uncover novel biological agents.

A Poisoning Outbreak Caused by Millettia Pachycarpa - Chongqing Municipality, December 2020.

What is already known about this topic? Millettia pachycarpa belongs to the Fabaceae family and is widely distributed in the southern China. It is toxic for the rotenone contained in its roots and seeds, and ingesting its seeds could result in poisoning. What is added by this report? In December, 2020, a poisoning from plant seeds occurred in Chongqing Municipality. The etiological association was confirmed based on epidemiological investigation, clinical manifestation, plant species identification, and rotenone analysis. The patient rapidly developed central nervous and respiratory depression with metabolic acidosis. The plant was identified as Millettia pachycarpa, and toxin analysis indicated that the rotenone content contained in the seeds was high enough to cause intoxication. What are the implications for public health practice? Millettia pachycarpa poisoning is rare but could be fatal. Efforts should be made to educate and communicate with the public, doctors, and public health practitioners that the toxic effects the seeds could be life-threating when swallowed, both accidentally or intentionally.

In-vitro screening of indigenous botanicals of Manipur for anti fungal activities of Helminthosporium oryzae an incitant of brown spot disease of rice and efficacy test at different level of concentrations

Eleven indigenous plant species of Manipur viz., Mariandra benghalensis, Millettia pachycarpa, Allium hookerii, Flogacanthus thyrsiflorus, Solanum incanum, Tithonia diversifolia, Goniothalamus sesquipedalis, Solanum surattense, Artemisia nilagarica, Ocimum canum and Zanthozylum acanthopodium which has been used as local medicine and spices were collected from five district of Manipur viz. Tamenglong, Senapati, Kangpokpi, Imphal east and Imphal West. In –vitro screening of above indigenous botanicals of Manipur was studied for anti-fungal activities of Helminthosporium oryzae an incitant of brown spot disease of Rice. The first five botanicals with maximum inhibition was found in Solanum incanum with 52.44% followed by Allium hookerii (47.77%), Millettia pachycarpa (36.66%), Mariandra benghalensis (24.44%) and Flogacanthus thyrsyflorus (17.77%) over control. Efficacy test at different level of concentrations i.e. 10%, 15% and 20% of standard botanical extracts was evaluated against growth of fungus both in broth and solid culture media. However, among botanicals maximum per cent inhibition on biomass production was found at 20% concentrate of S. incanum with growth inhibition of 74.03%, followed by A. hookerii (62.66%), M. Benghalensis (46.36%) and F. thyrsiflorus (42.33%) growth inhibition over the untreated control. In solid media test maximum per cent inhibition on radial growth of test fungi was found at 20% concentration in treatment of S. incanum with growth inhibition of 72.70% over control followed by A. hookerii (59.81%), M. Pachycarpa (45.03), M. benghalensis (37.59%) and F.thyrsiflorus (28.70%) over the untreated control.

Identification of profilin 1 as the primary target for the anti-cancer activities of Furowanin A in colorectal cancer.

Furowanin A (Fur A) is a flavonoid compound isolated from medicinal plant Millettia pachycarpa Benth. This study aims to explore the effect of Fur A on Colorectal cancer (CRC) and its molecular mechanisms. Cell proliferative capacity of CRC cells was assessed by CCK-8 assay. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were detected by flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion were detected by wound healing and Transwell assay, respectively. EMT markers, apoptosis and profilin 1(Pfn1) expression were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The protein expression levels were examined by western blotting. i-TRAQ analyses were conducted to identify the differentially expressed genes in CRC cells. CRC xenograft model was also used to validate the in vivo anti-cancer activity of Fur A. Fur A exhibited anti-prolifertive, blocked cell cycle progression and promoted apoptotic cell death in CRC cells. Fur A suppressed the migration, invasion and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro, and tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis in vivo, without causing obvious toxicity. iTRAQ analysis identified Pfn1 as a gene up-regulated by Fur A. In xenograft tumor tissue, the expression of Pfn1 was also elevated by Fur A treatment. In clinical CRC samples, high expression of Pfn1 was correlated with lower stage and longer survival. Knockdown of Pfn1 significantly dampened the pro-apoptotic and anti-metastatic activities of Fur A in CRC cells. Ectopic Pfn1 expression augmented the anti-neoplastic activities of Fur A. Fur A exhibited anti-cancer activities in vitro and in vivo in CRC by up-regulating Pfn1.

Furowanin A Exhibits Antiproliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Activities by Targeting Sphingosine Kinase 1 in Osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is one of the most common malignant bone tumors among children and young adults. Furowanin A (Fur A), one of the active ingredients of Millettia pachycarpa Benth, has been found to exert pro-apoptotic activity in human leukemia cells. This study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of Fur A against OS. The effect of Fur A on cell viability was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were performed to determine the protein and mRNA level of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1), respectively. To validate the role of SphK1 in the pro-apoptotic activity of Fur A, overexpressing SphK1 vector and siRNA targeting SphK1 were utilized to transfect OS cells. Moreover, an OS xenograft murine model was used to analyze the therapeutic efficacy of Fur A in vivo. Fur A treatment led to a dose-dependent decrease in the number of viable cells. It also exhibited antiproliferative activity and significantly promoted apoptotic cell death in OS cell lines. Our results showed that the anticancer activity of Fur A was associated with downregulation of SphK1 and inactivation of its downstream signaling. The mediatory role of SphK1 was validated when the pro-apoptotic activity of Fur A was significantly blocked by SphK1 overexpression, while SphK1 knockdown sensitized the OS cells to Fur A. We concluded that Fur A can exhibit anti-growth and pro-apoptotic activities in vitro and in vivo in OS by downregulating SphK1. Our study highlights the possibility of utilizing Fur A as a chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of OS. Anat Rec, 302:1941-1949, 2019. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy.

Highly selective carbamate-based butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors derived from a naturally occurring pyranoisoflavone

This current study described the design and synthesis of a series of derivatives based on a natural pyranoisaflavone, which was obtained from the seeds of Millettia pachycarpa and displayed attractive BChE inhibition and high selectivity in our previous study. The inhibitory potential of all derivatives against two cholinesterases was evaluated. Only a few compounds demonstrated AChE inhibitory activity at the tested concentrations, while 26 compounds showed significant inhibition on BChE (the IC50 values varied from 9.34 μM to 0.093 μM), most of them presented promising selectivity to ward BChE. Prediction of ADME properties for 7 most active compounds was performed. Among them, 9g (IC50 = 222 nM) and 9h (IC50 = 93 nM) were found to be the most potent BChE inhibitors with excellent selectivity over AChE (SI ratio = 1339 and 836, respectively). The kinetic analysis demonstrated both of them acted as mixed-type BChE inhibitors, while the molecular docking results indicated that they interacted with both residues in the catalytic active site. A cytotoxicity test on PC12 cells showed that both 9g and 9h had a therapeutic safety range similar to tacrine. Overall, the results indicate that 9h could be a good candidate of BChE inhibitors.

Bioactivity-guided identification of flavonoids with cholinesterase and β-amyloid peptide aggregation inhibitory effects from the seeds of Millettia pachycarpa

Millettia pachycarpa Benth, a widely used anthelminthic drug in folk, is rich in flavonoids with various bioactivities. This study aimed to identify active flavonoids with anti-Alzheimer’s disease (AD) effect from its seeds by a bioassay-guided isolation. A novel rotenoid with unusual oxidative ring-opening skeleton (10) and nine known flavonoids (1–9) were obtained, and their structures were elucidated by NMR and HR-ESIMS analysis. Among all isolates, 7 and 8 showed selective butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities (IC50 = 2.34 and 11.49 μM, respectively), while 3 was classified as a dual-action inhibitor against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and BChE (IC50 AChE = 17.14 μM, IC50 BChE = 5.68 μM). Further kinetic study revealed that 3, 7, and 8 were mixed-type BChE inhibitors, but 3 was a competitive AChE inhibitor. Their strong binding affinities to BChE were confirmed by fluorescence quenching analysis. Additionally, 3 and 8 exhibited potent inhibitory effects against β-amyloid peptide aggregation. These results revealed M. pachycarpa could be a valuable source for anti-AD leads development, and compounds 3, 7 and 8 were worthy of further study as multifunctional or specific agents for AD treatment.

A new isoflavone with anti-inflammatory effect from the seeds of Millettia pachycarpa

A new isoflavone, milletenol A (1), along with four known flavonoids (2–5) were isolated from the seeds of Millettia pachycarpa. The structure of 1 was established by extensive spectroscopic methods while known compounds were identified by comparisons with literature data. Compound 1 and 2 showed significant anti-inflammatory activities against nitric oxide production in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. The state of CuSO4-stimulated inflammation was effectively alleviated by compound 1 in zebrafish. However, no significant cytotoxicity against human breast cancer cells was observed among all isolates.

RETRACTED: Furowanin A-induced autophagy alleviates apoptosis and promotes cell cycle arrest via inactivation STAT3/Mcl-1 axis in colorectal cancer

AimFurowanin A (Fur A) is a flavonoid isolated from Millettia pachycarpa Benth. Studies show its potent anti-neoplastic effects against leukemia cells. The aim of the present study was to determine the potential therapeutic effect of Fur A against colorectal cancer (CRC), and elucidate the underlying mechanism. Material and methodsCell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to determine cell, and TUNEL and Annexin-V/PI staining was used to detect apoptosis and the cell cycle distribution. The expression levels of specific proteins in the CRC cells were analyzed by Western blotting. A xenograft model was also established to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Fur A in vivo. Key findingsFur A suppressed proliferation, blocked cell cycle progression, induced apoptosis and promoted autophagy in CRC cells. Interestingly, Fur A-induced autophagy functioned not only as a survival mechanism against apoptosis but also intensified the cell cycle arrest in CRC cells. In addition, Fur A mediated its effects via the inactivation of the STAT3/Mcl-1 axis. SignificanceFur A is a promising drug candidate for the treatment and prevention of CRC.

Millepachine showed novel antitumor effects in cisplatin-resistant human ovarian cancer through inhibiting drug efflux function of ATP-binding cassette transporters.

Millepachine (MIL), a bioactive natural chalcone from Chinese herbal medicine Millettia pachycarpa Benth, exhibits strong antitumor effects against many human cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we found that MIL significantly inhibited the proliferation of cisplatin-resistant A2780CP cells via inducing obvious G2/M arrest and apoptosis and down-regulating the activity of topoisomerase II protein. We further found that the mechanism by which MIL showed good antitumor effects in cisplatin-resistant human ovarian cancer was associated with inhibiting the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporters in cisplatin-resistant A2780CP cells. Importantly, MIL did not only significantly inhibit the tumor growth in cisplatin-sensitive A2780S xenograft model, with an inhibitory rate of 73.21%, but also inhibited the tumor growth in the cisplatin-resistant A2780CP xenograft model, with an inhibitory rate of 65.68% (p<0.001 vs. control; p<0.001 vs. DDP). In addition, MIL did not induce acquired drug resistance in A2780S tumor-bearing mice with an inhibitory rate of 60.03%. The promising in vitro and in vivo performance indicated that MIL exhibited potential significance for drug research and development.

Growth inhibitory activity of Millettia pachycarpa (Bentham) extracts against Tobacco Caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Millettia pachycarpa (Bentham), a perennial climbing tree, found endemic in north-east India used by tribes for treating various ailments. To ascertain the potential of M. pachycarpa for pest management, the present investigation was formulated against a polyphagous pest, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius). Growth inhibitory activity of various extracts and extract fractions was evaluated against third instar larvae of S. litura through topical as well as diet incorporation method. It was observed that dichloromethane extract showed very good growth inhibition in both topical (GI50 7.77 ppm) and diet incorporation methods (GI50< 5 ppm). The growth inhibitory potential of this plant is also demonstrated by the presence of various abnormalities and reduction in larval and pupal weight.

The compound millepachine and its derivatives inhibit tubulin polymerization by irreversibly binding to the colchicine-binding site in β-tubulin

Inhibitors that bind to the paclitaxel- or vinblastine-binding sites of tubulin have been part of the pharmacopoeia of anticancer therapy for decades. However, tubulin inhibitors that bind to the colchicine-binding site are not used in clinical cancer therapy, because of their low therapeutic index. To address multidrug resistance to many conventional tubulin-binding agents, numerous efforts have attempted to clinically develop inhibitors that bind the colchicine-binding site. Previously, we have found that millepachine (MIL), a natural chalcone-type small molecule extracted from the plant Millettia pachycarpa, and its two derivatives (MDs) SKLB028 and SKLB050 have potential antitumor activities both in vitro and in vivo However, their cellular targets and mechanisms are unclear. Here, biochemical and cellular experiments revealed that the MDs directly and irreversibly bind β-tubulin. X-ray crystallography of the tubulin-MD structures disclosed that the MDs bind at the tubulin intradimer interface and to the same site as colchicine and that their binding mode is similar to that of colchicine. Of note, MDs inhibited tubulin polymerization and caused G2/M cell-cycle arrest. Comprehensive analysis further revealed that free MIL exhibits an s-cis conformation, whereas MIL in the colchicine-binding site in tubulin adopts an s-trans conformation. Moreover, introducing an α-methyl to MDs to increase the proportion of s-trans conformations augmented MDs' tubulin inhibition activity. Our study uncovers a new class of chalcone-type tubulin inhibitors that bind the colchicine-binding site in β-tubulin and suggests that the s-trans conformation of these compounds may make them more active anticancer agents.

A New Flavonol Glycoside from Millettia pachycarpa

Eight compounds (1-8), including a new flavonol glycoside (1), were isolated from Millettia pachycarpa. Their structures were elucidated based on combination of spectroscopic methods and comparing with data in literatures. Three of them (2, 6 and 8) were obtained from this genus for the first time. Meanwhile, this is also the first time compound 5 has been found from nature. Biological evaluation of all isolates against two cholinesterases (ChEs) is also described.

Antifeedant activity and phytochemical investigation of Millettia pachycarpa extracts against Tobacco Leaf Eating Caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

This study was aimed to evaluate the antifeedant activity of leaf extracts on third instar larvae of Tobacco Leaf Eating Caterpillar (Spodoptera litura) and bioassay guided isolation of pure compounds from Millettia pachycarpa. Plant material was extracted with two different solvents; hexane and methanol. Methanol extract was found to be active as compared to hexane extract against S. litura after 48h and was sequentially further partitioned between hexane, dichloromethane and butanol. DCM fraction was further subjected to column chromatography from which five fractions were obtained. Among different CC fractions, fraction 2 (FR 2) showed highest activity (AI50 227.12ppm) and pure compound, lupeol, was isolated. Antifeedant activity results show that activity was comparable to natural plant based insecticide azadirachtin and this plant can be further explored for its use as natural pesticide.