Evaluation of the Toxicity of<i>Virola sebifera</i>Crude Extracts, Fractions and Isolated Compounds on the Nest of Leaf-Cutting Ants

Abstract

The phytochemical study of Virola sebifera leaves led to the isolation of three lignans: (+)-sesamin, (−)-hinokinin, and (−)-kusunokinin and three flavonoids: quercetin-3- O - α -L-rhamnoside, quercetin-3- O - β -D-glucoside, and quercetin-3-methoxy-7- O - β -D-glucoside by using techniques as high-speed counter-current chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. The crude extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds were evaluated for their insecticidal and fungicidal potential against Atta sexdens rubropilosa and its symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus . The bioassay results showed a high insecticidal activity for the methanol crude extract of the leaves of V. sebifera and its n -hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions. The fungicidal bioassay revealed high toxicity of the lignans against L. gongylophorus .