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Physiological effects of the natural products quassin, cinnamaldehyde and azadirachtin on Periplaneta americana (L.)
Author(s) -
Hertel W.,
Hertel W.,
Müller P.J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of applied entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0418
pISSN - 0931-2048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0418.2006.01065.x
Subject(s) - periplaneta , azadirachtin , cinnamaldehyde , blattidae , biology , electrophysiology , heart rate , pharmacology , endocrinology , biochemistry , pesticide , neuroscience , blood pressure , cockroach , ecology , agronomy , catalysis
The action of the plant products quassin, cinnamaldehyde and azadirachtin was examined using pharmacological and electrophysiological methods. All three substances inhibited the beat rate of the antenna‐heart, with quassin causing a diastolic and cinnamaldehyde a systolic block. Quassin delayed and azadirachtin at first accelerated the frequency of action potentials in the heart muscle, but 5 × 10 −3 m of the latter compound degraded the spike pattern and decreased the heart rate. A typical prolongation of the duration of the action potentials was observed. In recordings from a nerve of the frontal ganglion, quassin and cinnamaldehyde reduced the intervals between the spontaneous bursts, which turned into a continuous spike discharge with a decline in activity, while azadirachtin had no effect. Measurements in a single neurone of this ganglion revealed that quassin had a suppressive effect on the frequency and amplitude of the action potentials. These results suggest that the physiological effects demonstrated do not cause the primary insecticidal actions of these plant products.