INSECTICIDAL AND CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF NATURAL AND HEMISYNTHETIC DESTRUXINS

The insecticidal and cytotoxic effects of 13 natural and hemisynthetic destruxins have been studied. DE shows insecticidal effects similar t o those of DA, while DE and DA are more active than all the other natu ral compounds and analogues tested. Brominated destruxin is a relative ly active analogue displaying particular modalities of cytotoxic effec ts which reflect a certain originality of its mode of action. The line ar molecule resulting from the opening of the DA cycle is not toxic. T he most hydrophilic destruxins showing e.g. charged radicals (COO-) ap pear the least toxic probably because they do not penetrate easily the cellular membranes.