Gossypol Inhibits Protease and Amylase Activity of Spodoptera littoralis1 Larvae2

Abstract

Growth, and protease and amylase activities were inhibited in Spodoptera littoralis Boisduval larvae fed on the cotyledons of a high gossypol cotton strain. Gossypol interacts rapidly in vitro with protease or its proteinaceous substrate, resulting in an increased inhibition of proteolysis with rising gossypol concentration.