Quantitative structure-activity relationships of pine weevil antifeedants, a multivariate approach

J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Nov 14;55(23):9365-72. doi: 10.1021/jf070014p. Epub 2007 Oct 10.

Abstract

Antifeedant activity of mainly phenylpropanoic, cinnamic, and benzoic acids esters was tested on the pine weevil, Hylobius abietis (L.). Of 105 compounds screened for activity, 9 phenylpropanoates, 3 cinnamates, and 4 benzoates were found to be highly active antifeedants. To understand the structure-activity relationships of these compounds, a multivariate analysis study was performed. A number of molecular and substituent descriptors were calculated and correlated to results from two-choice feeding tests with H. abietis. Three local models were developed that had good internal predictive ability. External test sets showed moderate predictivity. In general, low polarity, small size, and high lipophilicity were characteristics for compounds having good antifeedant activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzoates / chemistry
  • Benzoates / pharmacology
  • Cinnamates / chemistry
  • Cinnamates / pharmacology
  • Eating / drug effects
  • Insecticides / chemistry*
  • Insecticides / pharmacology
  • Pinus*
  • Propionates / chemistry
  • Propionates / pharmacology
  • Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship*
  • Weevils / physiology*

Substances

  • Benzoates
  • Cinnamates
  • Insecticides
  • Propionates