Two compounds recognized as responsible for the insecticidal activity of extracts of Calceolaria andina L. (Scrophulariaceae) have been isolated and characterized as 2-(1, 1-dimethylprop-2-enyl)-3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and the corresponding acetate, 2-acetoxy-3-(1,1-dimethylprop-2-enyl)-1, 4-naphthoquinone. Their activities against 29 pest species and 9 beneficial species of arthropod from a total of 11 orders have been determined. Activities against homopteran and acarine species are of the same order as those of established pesticides, and, significantly, no cross-resistance is observed for strains resistant to established classes of insecticide. Mammalian toxicities are low.

This paper reports the investigation of the insecticidal and fungicidal activity of dunnione, a natural product obtained inadvertently as a by-product of a synthesis programme. Dunnione exhibits no insecticidal activity but has an unusually broad spectrum of antifungal activity. In vitro and in vivo (preventative) activities were comparable to those of several long-established fungicides (eg carbendazim). However, in whole-plant assays, its eradicant activity was unexpectedly low, probably due to poor dose-transfer from leaf surface to fungus. The level of residual activity appears to be influenced by the formulation. Finally, its potential as a lead structure was assessed, and several analogues synthesised which exhibited high activity in the in vitro assays. Mode-of-action studies revealed that dunnione exerts its action primarily through initiation of redox cycling. This contrasts to the activity of BTG 505, the biochemical/chemical precursor, which does not initiate redox cycling but instead exhibits both insecticidal and fungicidal activity by inhibiting mitochondrial Complex III.

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