Triphenyl and tetraphenyl derivatives of group V elements as inhibitors of growth and digestive enzymes of Tribolium confusum and Tribolium castaneum larvae

• Published in: Pesticide biochemistry and physiology Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 164 - 168
• Main Authors: Ishaaya, Isaac, Yablonski, Sara, Ascher, K.R.Simon, Casida, John E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.01.1980
• ISSN: 0048-3575; 1095-9939
• DOI: 10.1016/0048-3575(80)90068-1

Tetraphenylstibonium chloride (Ph 4SbCl) at a dietary level of 500–2000 μmol/kg inhibits larval growth, gut invertase activity, pupation, and emergence of Tribolium confusum and Tribolium castaneum. Tetraphenylphosphonium chloride (Ph 4PCl) in this concentration range inhibits growth and gut invertase activity without affecting pupation and emergence whereas tetraphenylarsonium chloride is essentially inactive in all respects. Triphenylstibine (Ph 3Sb) but not the other triphenyl derivatives (amine, phosphine, and arsine) inhibits both larval growth and gut digestive enzyme activities (invertase and protease) in vivo. Protease but not invertase is inhibited in vitro by Ph 4PCl and Ph 4SbCl at 2 × 10 −3 M. Ph 4PCl appears to act as an antifeeding agent and Ph 4SbCl and Ph 3Sb as more general toxicants.