SEQUESTRATION OF TROPANE ALKALOIDS FROM Brugmansia suaveolens (SOLANACEAE): NEW RECORDS FOR ORTHOPTERA AND COLEOPTERA

• Published in: Acta biológica colombiana Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 169 - 172
• Main Authors: Arab Olavarrieta, Alberto José, Trigo, José Roberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bogota Universidad Nacional de Colombia 01.05.2024
• Subjects: Alkaloids; Aposematism; Bioaccumulation; Brugmansia suaveolens; Chrysomelidae; Coleoptera; Datureae; Gas chromatography; Herbivores; Host plants; Insects; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Metabolites; Neurotoxicity; New records; Orthoptera; Plant extracts; Predators; Scopolamine; Secondary metabolites; Solanaceae; Tropane alkaloids
• ISSN: 0120-548X; 1900-1649
• DOI: 10.15446/abc.v29n2.100414

Tropane alkaloids (TAs) are the main secondary metabolites found in Datureae (Solanaceae). These compounds are neurotoxic to many organisms. However, some insect species can sequester and accumulate TAs in their bodies. Brugmansia suaveolens (Humb. and Bonpl. ex Willd.) Bercht. and J.Presl, a Neotropical shrub, is known to produce TAs. In this study, we report the sequestration of TAs from B. suaveolens by Chromacris speciosa (Thunberg, 1824) (Orthoptera: Rhomaleidae) and Lema daturaphila Kogan & Goeden (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Both of these insects have been observed feeding on leaves from various species of Solanaceae in the study site. We analyzed extracts from insects and the host plant using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In B. suaveolens, we identified five TAs, while in the insect bodies, we found four. Scopolamine was the most abundant alkaloid in all the samples. This is the first report of TAs in these insects. While TAS may play a role in defense against generalist herbivores, further investigation is needed to understand the association between TAs and predators since both insects exhibit moderately aposematic features  Alcaloides tropánicos (ATs) son los principales metabolitos secundarios de plantas de la tribu Datureae (Solanaceae). Esos compuestos son neurotóxicos para insectos, sin embargo algunas espécies pueden secuestrar y acumular ATs en sus cuerpos. Brugmansia suaveolens (Humb. and Bonpl. ex Willd.) Bercht. and J.Presl es un arbusto neotropical que produce ATs. En este trabajo reportamos el secuestro de ATs de B. suaveolens por Chromacris speciosa (Thunberg, 1824) (Orthoptera: Rhomaleidae) y Lema daturaphila Kogan & Goeden (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Extractos de los insectos y de la planta huesped fueron analizados por CG-MS. Fueron identificados cinco alcaloides en B. suaveolens y cuatro en los insectos, siendo escopolamina el alcaloide más abundante. Esta es la primera vez que estos insectos son registrados atacando B. suaveolens. El papel de los ATs en insectos puede estar relacionado a la defensa contra herbívoros generalistas, sin embargo, la asociación entre TAs y depredadores necesita ser investigada, ya que ambos insectos son moderadamente aposemáticos.