Larvicidal activity of lectins from Myracrodruon urundeuva on Aedes aegypti

Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol. 2009 Apr;149(3):300-6. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2008.08.004. Epub 2008 Aug 15.

Abstract

Aedes aegypti transmits etiologic agents of yellow fever and dengue. Vaccine for dengue virus is not available and vector control is essential to minimize dengue incidence. This report deals with the larvicidal activity of lectins isolated from Myracrodruon urundeuva bark (MuBL) and heartwood (MuHL). The lectins were isolated by ammonium sulphate treatment of crude extracts followed by chromatography on chitin. MuBL and MuHL were evaluated by electrophoresis under native (PAGE) and denaturing conditions (SDS-PAGE). Carbohydrate specificity of lectins was evaluated by hemagglutinating activity (HA) inhibition assay using N-acetyl-d-glucosamine and by affinity chromatography on N-acetyl-D-glucosamine immobilized in agarose gel. Larvicidal activity against A. aegypti was investigated with the extracts, salt fractions and isolated lectins. MuBL and MuHL were characterized by PAGE as basic proteins of molecular masses of 14.0 and 14.4 kDa, respectively. The interaction of lectins with N-acetylglucosamine was detected by inhibition of HA by monosaccharide and lectin adsorptions on N-acetyl-D-glucosamine matrix. All M. urundeuva preparations promoted larvae mortality. LC16, LC50 and LC84 values of 0.077, 0.125, 0.173 for MuBL and 0.03, 0.04 and 0.05 mg/mL for MuHL were obtained. To our knowledge this is the first report of larvicidal activity of lectins against A. aegypti.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylglucosamine / chemistry
  • Aedes / drug effects*
  • Aedes / embryology
  • Animals
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Hemagglutination / drug effects
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Insecticides / chemistry
  • Insecticides / isolation & purification
  • Insecticides / pharmacology*
  • Larva / drug effects
  • Magnoliopsida* / chemistry
  • Molecular Weight
  • Mosquito Control / methods*
  • Plant Bark
  • Plant Lectins / chemistry
  • Plant Lectins / isolation & purification
  • Plant Lectins / pharmacology*
  • Wood

Substances

  • Insecticides
  • Plant Lectins
  • Acetylglucosamine