Insecticidal Activities of Diterpene Alkaloids in Plants of the Genera Aconitum and Delphinium.

As the global population grows, food security and agricultural productivity face challenges, and insect pests cause significant losses to crops. The effectiveness of traditional chemical pesticides is declining, and eco-friendly pesticides need to be developed. Diterpenoid alkaloids (DAs), natural products of plant origin, have attracted attention due to their low environmental risks. Here we review the classification, structure, insecticidal and anti-feeding activities of diterpenoid alkaloids, as well as the current state of research on these chemicals. Studies have shown that C₁₉- and C₂₀-diterpenoid alkaloids show significant activity against a variety of insects, but there are still limited studies on C₁₈-diterpenoid alkaloids. Therefore, through in-depth research on diterpenoid alkaloids, we have discovered that there are various compounds with high efficiency and specificity in insecticidal and antifeedant activities among C₁₉- and C₂₀-diterpenoid alkaloids, which exhibit high selectivity and efficiency towards target pests. This paper emphasizes the potential of diterpenoid alkaloids as novel biopesticides and highlights the need to combine new technologies to conduct further systematic evaluation and screening of these compounds. This work provides new ideas for the development of environmentally friendly pesticides and contributes to sustainable agricultural practices.