The antifeedant effect of some new withanolides on three insect species,spodoptera littoralis, epilachna varivestis andtribolium castaneum

The antifeedant effect of several new withanolides on larvae ofSpodoptera littoralis, Epilachna varivestis andTribolium castaneum was investigated. 2,3-Dihydrowithanolide E (II) was an antifeedant forS. littoralis andE. varivestis; nicalbin A (XIV), and a mixture of withanicandrin (IX) and daturalactone A (X), were active against E. varivestis andT. castaneum. Some activity was shown by 6β,14α,17β,20αF-tetrahydroxy-1-oxowitha-2,4,24-trienolide (V) againstS. littoralis; 4β,5β-epoxy-6α,14α,17β,20αF-tetrahydroxy-l-oxowitha-2,24-dienolide (VII) againstE. varivestis andT. castaneum; 5α,6α,-epoxy-14α,17β,20αF-trihydroxy-1-oxowitha-2,24-dienolide (VI) againstE. varivestis; and nicalbin B (XV) againstT. castaneum.