Luciane G Batista Pereira

Bio: Luciane G Batista Pereira is an academic researcher from Federal University of São Carlos. The author has contributed to research in topics: Anticarsia gemmatalis & Astilbin. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 50 citations.

Biological activity of astilbin from Dimorphandra mollis against Anticarsia gemmatalis and Spodoptera frugiperda

Abstract: Astilbin was isolated in high yield from Dimorphandra mollis, and its insecticidal and growth inhibiting activity by stomach ingestion were evaluated against Anticarsia gemmatalis and Spodoptera frugiperda. The insecticidal activity of astilbin, the weight reduction of the larval phase and the prolongation of the larval and pupal phases were verified for both species. Astilbin was identified on the base of its NMR, MS and physical data.

Effect of different host plants on nutritional indices of the pod borer, helicoverpa armigera

Abstract: Nutritional indices of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on different host plants including chickpea (cultivars Arman, Hashem, Azad, and Binivich), common bean (cultivar Khomein), white kidney bean (cultivar Dehghan), red kidney bean (cultivar Goli), cowpea (cultivar Mashhad), tomato (cultivar Meshkin) and potato (cultivars Agria and Satina) were studied under laboratory conditions (25 ± 1 °C, 65 ± 5% RH, 16:8 L:D). Third instar larvae reared on potato Agria showed the highest efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) and efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) (50.800 e 0.104% and 13.630 ± 0.016%, respectively). Approximate digestibility (AD) values of the fourth instar larvae were highest (92.651 ± 0.004%) and lowest (57.140 — 0.049%) on chickpea Azad and potato Agria, respectively. The fifth instar larvae fed on tomato Meshkin and white kidney bean Dehghan had the highest consumption index (CI) (3.717 ± 0.091) and relative consumption rate (RCR) (1.620 ± 0.074), respectively. Whole larval instars showed the highest ECI and ECD values on potatoes Satina (14.640 ± 0.014%) and Agria (21.380 ± 0.015%), respectively, and the lowest of both values on tomato Meshkin (ECI: 5.748 ± 0.002% and ECD: 7.341 ± 0.002%). The results of nutritional indices and the cluster analysis indicated that tomato Meshkin was an unsuitable host for feeding of H. armigera.

Astilbin suppresses collagen-induced arthritis via the dysfunction of lymphocytes.

Abstract: Objective and Design: To examine the therapeutic effects of astilbin, a flavanoid isolated from Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae, on arthritis and to compare it with cyclosporine A (CsA). Materials and Methods: Type II collagen-induced arthritis in mice and its in vitro assays for proliferation, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and NO production were performed. Results: Astilbin dose-dependently inhibited the footpad swelling, arthritic incidence, and clinical scores without influencing the body weights, while CsA showed strong inhibition with a significant weight loss. Histological examination revealed marked inflammatory damage in arthritic mice including joint swelling, synovial hyperplasia, and cartilage destruction. Against these, an intact joint structure was maintained in astilbin-treated or CsA-treated mice. In isolated spleen cells from arthritic mice, increased potentials in proliferation, NO production, and MMP-2 and 9 activities were suppressed dose-dependently by the oral administration of astilbin. Additionally, astilbin showed neither any cytotoxicity to nor influence on Con A-induced proliferation of spleen cells from naive mice, while CsA showed a dose-dependent cytotoxicity and inhibition of the proliferation. Conclusions: Astilbin may act as an efficient therapeutic agent for arthritis like CsA but with less toxicity. Its mechanism includes a selective suppression on lymphocyte functions via reducing MMP and NO production.

Astilbin inhibits contact hypersensitivity through negative cytokine regulation distinct from cyclosporin A.

Abstract: Background IL-10 is known as a negative regulator for inflammatory diseases, including contact dermatitis. However, only a few drug candidates are reported to induce endogenous IL-10. Objective We sought to elucidate a new mechanism underlying the immunosuppressive properties of astilbin through negative cytokine regulation in comparison with the effective pattern with cyclosporin A. Methods Contact hypersensitivity was induced in mice with picryl chloride. Lymph node cells were isolated for adoptive transfer and cytokine assays. Results Astilbin significantly inhibited contact hypersensitivity when given in the elicitation phase but not in the sensitization phase, whereas cyclosporin A inhibited both phases. Lymph node cells from donor mice administered astilbin failed to adoptively transfer the hypersensitivity. Astilbin in vivo remarkably induced IL-10 expression in lymph node cells at an earlier time and decreased TNF-α and IFN-γ expression at a later time. Furthermore, the in vivo neutralization of IL-10 significantly impaired the effect of astilbin on contact hypersensitivity. In the isolated lymphocytes sensitized with picryl chloride in vivo and challenged with trinitrobenzene–sulfonic acid in vitro , astilbin did not affect the cell proliferation but modulated the above cytokine profiles as its in vivo effect in a concentration-dependent manner and furthermore significantly enhanced the expressions of suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 and 3. On the other hand, cyclosporin A strongly inhibited proinflammatory cytokine production but influenced neither IL-10 nor downstream suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 and 3 expression. Conclusion Astilbin alleviates contact hypersensitivity through a unique mechanism involving a negative cytokine regulation through stimulating IL-10, which is distinct from the immunosuppressant cyclosporin A.

Soybean Cultivars Affecting Performance of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract: Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) is one of the major devastating and highly polyphagous insect pests in many parts of the world (Liu et al., 2004; Naseri et al., 2009 a, b; Naseri et al., 2011). This species has a high potential for population increase and outbreak on different host plants including soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) throughout the world. Helicoverpa armigera is a major pest of more than 60 cultivated and uncultivated plant species, distributed in 47 families (Zalucki et al., 1994). To determine the potential of different soybean cultivars to help manage H. armigera populations, data on the effects of various cultivars on the pest's digestive enzymes, survival, development time, reproduction, population growth and nutritional indices are necessary. Such experiments essentially measure the potential for antibiosis resistance. Host plant resistance has been used effectively in sustainable integrated management programs for several crop pests. Plants with antibiosis machanism may reduce directly insect survival, size or weight, longevity, and fecundity in new generation adults, or they may have an indirect effect by increasing the exposure of the insect to its natural enemies due to prolonged developmental time (Sarfraz et al., 2006). In terms of production and trade, soybean is the most important leguminous crop in the world due to its high protein (35-40 %) and oil content (15-22 %). In recent years (especially after 1950), soybean production has been seriously affected by H. armigera. In spite of high level of natural mortality, H. armigera needs to be controlled by synthetic pesticides (Fitt, 1994). Despite extensive use of synthetic insecticides to control H. armigera, it has developed/evolved resistance to these insecticides, extremely reducing the number of effective approaches to its control (Armes et al., 1992). Consequently, there is considerable interest in alternative management tactics, which might be applied in area-wide or more restricted basis. Environmentally safe techniques are not widely used in rural areas, probably because these products are too expensive or their effectiveness is highly variable (Sharma, 2001). Therefore, the study of potential resistance of soybean cultivars by comparing the performance of H. armigera on these cultivars can play an important role in identifying the anti-digestive or anti-feedant compounds and their further use in the pest management programs.