Toxicity of extracts and isobutyl amides from Piper tuberculatum: potent compounds with potential for the control of the velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis.

The isobutyl amides pellitorine (compound 1) and 4,5-dihydropiperlonguminine (compound 2) were extracted from the seeds of Piper tuberculatum Jacq. (Piperaceae) in yields of 6.10 and 4.45% respectively. The acute toxicities to the velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), of extracts of seeds, leaves and stems of P. tuberculatum, and of compounds 1 and 2, were evaluated by means of contact bioassays. The extracts caused 80% mortality when doses higher than 800.00 microg insect(-1) of extract of seeds, leaves and stems were administered to the velvetbean caterpillars. Compounds 1 and 2 showed 100% mortality at doses of 200 and 700 microg insect(-1) respectively. The LD(50) and LD(90) values were respectively 31.3 and 104.5 microg insect(-1) for compound 1, and 122.3 and 381.0 microg insect(-1) for compound 2. The potential value of extracts and amides derived from P. tuberculatum as efficient insecticides against velvetbean caterpillars is discussed.