Addition of caryophyllene or caryophyllene oxide to diet significantly lowers the weight gain of Heliothis virescens (F.) larvae. Values of ED50 (dose that reduces 50% of growth compared with control) were approximately 4 mg/ml diet and 1 mg/ml diet, respectively. At caryophyllene doses of 2 mg/ml and greater, pupal weight was reduced significantly, whereas time to pupation was only slightly increased. The slight positive growth effect (hormetic) that was noted when larvae were raised on a diet containing a low concentration of gossypol was increased significantly by low concentrations of caryophyllene indicating a synergistic effect. However, the growth-retarding effect of high gossypol concentrations was not synergized. Caryophyllene oxide also acts synergistically with gossypol, increasing the growth stimulating effects, but in contrast to caryophyllene, it acts synergistically with higher levels of gossypol and retards larval growth further.
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Gunasena et al. (1988) studied this question.