Natural products serve as prime sources for discovering novel biopesticides to manage globally devastating agricultural pests. Given the growing prevalence of Acyrthosiphon pisum resistance to chemical insecticides, exploring eco-friendly botanical insecticides with unique modes of action has emerged as a pressing research priority. In this study, fifteen sesquiterpenoids ( 1 − 15 ) with insecticidal potential were characterized from D. nobile , including ten novel compounds ( 1 − 10 ) and five known ones ( 11 − 15 ). Structural determination of these compounds was accomplished using a combination of extensive spectroscopic techniques, quantum chemical calculations, and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Against A. pisum , compound 1 exerted favorable oral toxicity at 72 h (LC 50 = 22.24 μ g/mL), its efficacy being slightly higher than that of the commercial botanical insecticide Rote (LC 50 = 24.39 μ g/mL). Compounds 1 and 6 also demonstrated notable repellent activity toward A. pisum , attaining a RI of 1.00 at 100–400 μ g/mL. Treatment with compound 1 , shriveling of mouthparts and structural disruption of cuticles were observed in A. pisum . The inhibition of chitinase and α -AL, coupled with bidirectional regulation of GST may serve as potential mechanistic contributors to the appreciable insecticidal efficacy of compound 1 against A. pisum . In addition, the favorable safety profile of compound 1 toward pea crops provides support for its potential as a novel botanical pesticide candidate for the sustainable management of A. pisum . • Ten novel sesquiterpenoids ( 1 − 10 ) and five known metabolites ( 11 − 15 ) were identified from D. nobile . • Compound 6 is a highly aromatized cadinane-type sesquiterpenoid. • Compound 1 showed significant oral toxicity against A. pisum (LC 50 =22.24 μ g/mL) , comparable to Rotenone (LC 50 =24.39 μ g/mL). • Compounds 1 and 6 displayed potent repellent activity against A. pisum with a RI of 1.00 under 100–400 μ g/mL at 24 h.
Yang et al. (Thu,) studied this question.