The ecdysones

Abstract

The discovery of ecdysones, moulting hormones of insects and crustaceans, from plants in late 1966 has resulted in subsequent isolations of a total of about 40 new phytoecdysones. This has contributed a great deal to the understanding of the chemistry and physicochemical data of ecdysones. A general account of these aspects is given, together with results of preliminary bio-organic studies concerning the metabolic fate of exogenous ecdysones and the site of biosynthesis of ecdysones in the silkworm. Finally, very recently several plants have been discovered to contain substances which inhibit the moulting as bioassayed by the topical dipping method. The structure of the first to be elucidated, ajugalactone, is discussed. The second inhibitor to be isolated is interesting because it is a non-steroid. Another intriguing aspect of these inhibitors is their specificity towards the ecdysone structure. © 1971, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.