Rotenoid derivatives from Kenyan Millettia and Derris species as larvicidal agents

Abstract

Rotenone (1), one of the most extensively used natural insecticides, was reported to be highly toxic to the 4th instar larvae of Aedes aegypti (Abe et al., 1985). The insecticidal activities of rotenone and some other rotenoids, including deguelin (2) and tephrosin (3) against a variety of insect species are well known (Fukami and Nakajima, 1971). Commercially, rotenone is mainly extracted from the roots of Derris species in Asia and Lonchocarpus species in South America (Fukami and Nakajima, 1971). Rotenone and other flavonoids are also known to occur in several plants, including Millettia, belonging to the family Leguminosae (Dewick, 1994). We have studied the larvicidal activities of several rotenoids isolated from Millettia and Derris species. The structures and larvicidal activities of these rotenoids are reviewed in this paper.