Effect of lectins from Opuntia ficus indica cladodes and Moringa oleifera seeds on survival of Nasutitermes corniger Patrícia M.G. Paiva a, * , Giselly M.S. Santana a , Igor F.A.C. Souza a , Lidiane P. Albuquerque a , Afonso C. Agra-Neto a , Auristela C. Albuquerque b , Luciana A. Luz a , Thiago H. Napoleão a , Luana C.B.B. Coelho a a Departamento de Bioquímica-CCB, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE 50670-420, Brazil b Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Dois Irmãos, Recife, PE 52171-030, Brazil article info Article history: Received 21 March 2011 Received in revised form 24 May 2011 Accepted 28 May 2011 Available online 11 August 2011 Keywords: Termite Lectin Opuntia ficus indica Moringa oleifera Nasutitermes corniger abstract Biodegradation by termites is a serious problem for wood and crop industries worldwide, and new environmentally friendly alternatives for termite control have been developed. This work investigated the effects of crude and purified preparations containing lectins from Opuntia ficus indica cladodes (OfiL) and Moringa oleifera seeds (WSMoL and cMoL) on Nasutitermes corniger workers and soldiers. Purified OfiL was more active than cladode extracts, showing a stronger termiticidal activity against workers (LC 50 of 0.116 mg ml 1 ) than against soldiers. OfiL was active against soldiers only at 1.5 mg ml 1 . All prep- arations containing WSMoL and cMoL were active only at concentrations of 1.0 and 1.5 mg ml 1 . The tested preparations did not exert repellent activity against N. corniger .OfiL was able to kill workers and therefore is potentially a new tool for N. corniger control; as a consequence, this lectin could disturb organization, structure, and maintenance of termite colonies. Ó 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction The use of chemical insecticides is still the main strategy used to control insect pests in agriculture. However, when applied on a large scale, these products have been associated with the emer- gence of resistant pest populations as well as damage to the envi- ronment and human health (Barros et al., 2006; Leite et al., 2007; Liu et al., 2011). Phytoinsecticides have been intensively studied in programs of integrated pest management, and today they are considered an effective and environmentally friendly alternative (Bernardi et al., 2010). When compared to ordinary chemical insecticides, these products generally present lower persistence and residual action, being more rapidly degraded. Although bio- insecticides may not be as effective as synthetic chemicals, they minimize the risk of elimination of beneficial species, decrease the emergence of resistant populations and phytotoxicity, and reduce human health hazards (Menezes, 2005). Insecticidal activity of lectins e hemagglutinating proteins with carbohydrate-binding ability e against agricultural insect pests has been reported for Bauhinia monandra leaf lectin on Callosobruchus maculatus, Zabrotes subfasciatus, and Anagasta kuehniella (Macedo et al., 2007). The lectins from Arisaema intermedium and Arisaema wallichianum have been reported to delay the development of the melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae, inhibiting pupation and emergence (Kaur et al., 2009). Induction of mortality on Acyrtho- siphon pisum (pea aphid) and Myzus persicae (green peach aphid) were observed after exposure to lectins from Allium sativum and Xerocomus chrysenteron, respectively (Fitches et al., 2008; Jaber et al., 2008). Chitin-binding lectins are able to interact with chitinous structures in insect guts, promoting deleterious effects (Coelho et al., 2009). Termites belong to a group of decomposer insects called Iso- ptera, closely related to cockroaches. They are long-lived eusocial insects that form large colonies consisting of reproductive forms, sterile workers, soldiers, and immature individuals. These insects produce their nests in trees, roots, or soil, since they are able to feed on woody tissue of plants, intact or partially decayed, as well as leaf litter, soil, and animal dung (Scheffrahn et al., 2002; Verma et al., 2009). Termites are abundant in tropical and subtropical regions, where their tunneling efforts help aerate the soil; also, these organisms help in breaking down and recycling plant materials (Thompson, 2000; Costa-Leonardo, 2002; Verma et al., 2009). * Corresponding author. Tel.: þ558121268540; fax: þ558121268576. E-mail address: ppaivaufpe@yahoo.com.br (P.M.G. Paiva). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ibiod 0964-8305/$ e see front matter Ó 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ibiod.2011.05.008 International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 65 (2011) 982e989