Discovery of New Botanical Insecticides: Identification and Insecticidal Activity of Saponins from Clematis obscura Maxim and Insights into the Stress Response of Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris

To discover new botanical products-based insecticide candidates, 14 triterpenoid saponins ( 1 – 14 ) including four new ones, obscurosides A-D ( 1 – 4 ), were isolated from Clematis obscura Maxim as potential agrochemicals against Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris and Plutella xylostella (L.). Compounds 1 – 3 were characterized by a rare ribose substitution at C-3, and 4 was a bidesmoside glycosylated at the rare C-23 and C-28 positions of the oleanane aglycone. Compounds 10 (median antifeeding concentration, AFC 50 = 1.10 mg/mL; half-lethal concentration, LC 50 = 1.21 mg/mL) and 13 (AFC 50 = 1.09 mg/mL, LC 50 = 1.37 mg/mL) showed significant insecticidal activities against third larvae of P. xylostella at 72 h. All saponins displayed antifeedant activities against A. pisum with the deterrence index of 0.20–1.00 at 400 μg/mL. Compound 8 showed optimal oral toxicity (LC 50 = 50.09 μg/mL) against A. pisum, followed by compounds 1, 5 – 7, 9, and 14 (LC 50 = 90.21–179.25 μg/mL) at 72 h. The shrinkage of the cuticle and the destruction of intestinal structures of microvilli, nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria were toxic symptoms of 8 -treated A. pisum . The significantly declined Chitinase activity in 8 -treated A. pisum with an inhibition rate of 79.1% at LC 70 (70% lethal concentration) could be the main reason for its significant oral toxicities. Molecular docking revealed favorable affinities of compounds 1 and 8 with group I Chitinase Of ChtI (Group I Chitinase from Ostrinia furnacalis ) through conventional hydrogen bonds and alkey/π-alkey interactions by different patterns. These results will provide valuable information for the development of novel botanical pesticides for the management of insect pests, especially against A. pisum .