Isolation and Insecticidal Activity of Farnesol from Stellera chamaejasme

Abstract

The root powder of Stellera chamaejasme was extracted with petroleum ether. The crude extract obtained was chromatographed with silica gel columns several times. One pure natural product was obtained. It was identified as 3,7,11-trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrien-1-ol (farnesol), which was isolated for the first time in the root of Stellera chamaejasme. The results of laboratory bioassay showed that it had good insecticidal activity against Aphis craccivora and Leucania separata. Its median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀) (24 h after treatment) were 20.2 and 15.2 mg L^-1, respectively. This is the first report of the insecticidal activity of farnesol against Aphis craccivora and Leucania separata.