Derris Rotenoids

Insecticides Derris Rotenoids Derris dusts and spraj used on cane fruits and Brassica crops... 

Dos Santos Pereira, A. et al.. Analysis and quantitation of rotenoids and flavonoids in Derris (Lonchocarpus urucu) by high-temperature high-resolution gas chromatography, J. Chromatogr. Set, 38, 174, 2000. 

Ito, C. et al., Cancer chemopreventive activity of rotenoids from Derris trifoliate, Planta Medica, 70, 8, 2004. 

Takashima, J. et al., Derrisin, a new rotenoid from Derris malaccensis plain and a.nti-Helicobacter pylori activity of its related constituents. Journal of Natural Products, 65, 611, 2002. 

Tephrosin. A rotenoid from Derris roots, Tephrosia, Lonchocarpus, and Millettia species. 

Rotenoids chromanochromanones present in plants (especially roots) of the Papilionaceae, a subfamily of the Leguminoseae, notably in the related genera, Derris, Lonchocarps, Tephrosia and Mundu-... 

Piscicides Derris, Lonchocarpus, Piscidia, Tephrosia Rotenoids (especially rotenone) Fishing aid (tribal use)... 

Another class of i. are rotenoids derived from the roots and seeds of Derris (Deguelia) elliptica and Derris malaccensis (Leguminosae) and over 60 other plant species. A most active compound is ro-tenone [83-79-4], a polycylic compound that can be applied to food crops shortly before use, due to its rapid degradation after exposure to sunlight. Rotenone-containing i. are applied as dust, powder or emulsions. 

Saponins are also present in Derris roots. But, contrary to those of Sapindaceae, they are devoid of toxicity. They do contribute, as dispersants, to suspend the rotenoids, which by themselves are insoluble in water (4). Figure 1 shows examples of the two types. 

It has been shown in the 30 s that Derris Lonchocarpus) extracts artificially deprived of rotenone still show conaderable insectiddal activity (6-8), Our own experiments extended these findings to Derris spedes which are naturally devoid of rotenoids but nevertheless show toxidty to fish of the same order as rotenone (9). Chalcones present in these were inactive. Several other spedes which do not contain rotenoids are reported to serve as fish posions. What are, then, the active principles in these suspensions or extracts ... 

It is possibly responsible, at least in part, for the toxicity of Derris extracts, even if they do not contain rotenoids. The matter is being investigated by us at present. Figure 2 shows some of the mentioned molecules. 

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