Antifeedants to armyworms, Spodoptera litura and Pseudaletia separata, from bitter gourd leaves, Momordica charantia

Bitter gourd, Momordica charantia, was less palatable to two species of armyworms, Spodoptera litura and Pseudaletia separata, than two other cucurbitaceous plants. A methanol extract of M. charantia leaves inhibited feeding of the armyworm larvae. The two most active fractions obtained by silica gel chromatography were purified by HPLC. Momordicine II, a triterpene monoglucoside, was identified as an antifeedant compound from the more active of these fractions. The second active fraction led to the isolation of a new triterpene diglucoside. Fresh leaves of M. charantia contained ca. 0.3% of momordicine II. Momordicine II showed significant antifeedant effects on P. separata at concentrations of 0.02, 0.1, and 0.5% in artificial diets. Momordicine II caused a significant feeding reduction in S. litura only at the highest concentration (0.5%) tested. The difference in feeding response of the two armyworms to momordicine II may be related to the diversity in their host range.