UV Protectants for the Biopesticide Based on Photostabilization of Ecdysone
The ultraviolet protectant (UV protectant) properties of different natural and synthetic compounds were investigated for a biopesticide based on ecdysone. This study examined the photostabilization of ecdysone when exposed to ultraviolet light in the presence of some ultraviolet protectants. Ecdysone solutions with and without UV protectants in methanol were applied onto the surface of glass slides. At particular intervals, the remaining concentration of ecdysone was analyzed by HPLC. Using first-order kinetic equation, the dissipation half-life values (DT50) for the degradation of ecdysone under ultraviolet radiation were obtained. The larvicidal activity was evaluated against the larvae of Martianus dermestoides Chevrolat. It indicated that the addition of congo red, yeast, starch and arabia gum provided moderate degree of photostabilization of ecdysone and that addition of lignin provided the best photostabilization of ecdysone, among these UV protectants studied. Toxicity of the ecdysone with UV protectants was higher to the larvae of M. dermestoides Chevrolat compared to the ecdysone alone as indicated by the lower EC50 value. The dissipation half-life values of ecdysone after irradiation under ultraviolet light and the larvicidal activity suggested that the addition of lignin (in 1:l mol ratio) can provide better photostabilization of ecdysone molecule.