A glycoprotein α-amylase inhibitor from Withania somnifera differentially inhibits various α-amylases and affects the growth and development of Tribolium castaneum复制标题

一种糖蛋白 α-淀粉酶抑制剂不同程度地抑制了各种 α-淀粉酶，并影响了七叶树的生长和发育。

Carbohydrates, an inevitable constituent of human diet worldwide are derived from a variety of crop plants.1 Along with humans, a number of pre and post-harvest insect pests fulfil their energy requirement through starchy tissues of crop plants. Larval and/or adult stages of these insects feed on various plant parts including seeds, leaves, stem, flower parts and roots to sustain larval growth and longevity of adults.2 Herbivorous insect pests are considered as a major competitors of human for agriculture resources contributing nearly 37% loss of agricultural produce (especially post-harvest) worldwide.3, 4 Many phytophagus insects including stored grain pests are responsible for massive losses by lowering germination percentage and overall nutritional quality of grains.5 Well known devastating stored grain pest red flour beetle, T. castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) largely depends on starch and requires highly active α-amylase in their gut for survival.6 A digestive enzyme, α-Amylase, responsible for catalysing the hydrolysis of α-D-(1,4)-glucan linkages in carbohydrates makes the insect capable of deriving energy from starch.7 Improved digestive capacity of insects can be attributed to presence of different isoforms of α-amylases and this ultimately offers increased sustainability to the insect in diverse conditions. Though, proteinases also contribute in insect digestion, α-amylases remain dominant as they stay active during non-feeding stage of the insect assuring its survival.8-10 In the light of these facts, it is wise to use bioinsecticides having α-amylase inhibitor action as far as management of T. castaneum is concern.

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