The present invention relates to novel triterpene derivatives of azadirachtin from neem plant (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) and a process for preparing novel triterpene derivatives of azadirachtin. The new triterpene derivatives of azadirachtin so prepared are useful in suppressing the insect pest population below the economic threshold level by their antifeedant and growth inhibitory activities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The imbalance in the ecosystem, human health hazards and the development of resistance by some insect pests caused by the continuous use of conventional insecticides have necessitated the search for alternative safer pesticides. Botanicals by virtue of their relatively low toxicity, biodegradability and many other factors acceptable to the environment are considered as the best alternatives to toxic chemicals. Among, botanicals, neem tree ranks first in view of its excellent pest control properties, its low mammalian toxicity and relative abundance in countries like India, Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and Africa. No other tree or plant possessing insect-control properties, has received as much attention as neem world over which is evident from the three International and one National (India) conferences held during the past decade.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Although the protection of stored food grains, woolen clothes, fruits and vegetables by neem leaves has been used in India since time immemorial, the first report of the pesticidal properties appeared around 1927 when Mann and Burns [Agri. J. India, Calcutta 22, 325 (1927)] observed during the locust cycle of 1926-27 that adult locusts did not feed on neem leaves. This was followed by Chopra [Rept. of Dept. of Agri., Punjab Pt.2, Vol. 1. P67 (1928)] who treated the extract of neem leaves as contact poison on grub weevils. Since then a number of publications describing the various activities from different parts of neem tree have appeared. For example, neem oil has shown antifeedant activity against Nephotettix virescens (leaf hopper of rice). [Neem Newsletter 1 (3) 28 (1984)]. Neem seed extract has shown antifeedant activity against Mythimna separata (rice ear cutting caterpillar) [Neem Newsletter 1 (3), 31 (1984)]. Neem cake has exhibited antifeedant activity against Nilaparvata Lugens (Rice Brown Plant Hopper) [J. Economic Entol., 77, 502 (1984)]. Neem oil has shown oviposition deterrent and ovicidal activity against a stored grain pest of rice Corcyra cephalonica (rice moth). Neem seed kernel water suspension has shown ovipcsition deterrent activity against Spodoptera litura (Tobacco caterpillar) [Phytoparasitica 7 (3), 199 (1979)]. Neem leaves extract has shown antifeedant activity against Rhizopertha dominica (lesser grain borer) [Neem Newsletter, 1 (2), 20 (1984)]. Neem root exudates have been reported to contain allelochemicals.

The first active principle exhibiting antifeedant properties against locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) was isolated in 1968 which was named as azadirachtin by Morgan and Butterwoth [Chem. Commn.23 (1968)]. Since then azadirachtin has been shown to exhibit insect antifeedant and/or growth-inhibitory activities on more than 50 insect spedlos. For example it has exhibited antifeedant activity at a dosage of 0.005% on Earias fabia (spotted cotton ballworm, family, Lepidoptera) [Phytoparasitica, 9 (1), 27 (1981)]. It has shown growth inhibitory activity at a dosage of 5-10 ppm against Spodoptera litura (tobacco caterpillar, Lepidoptera [Proceedings of the National Seminar on Neem in Agri.,] IARI, New Delhi, (1983); Indian J. Expt. Biol. 23(3), 16 (1985) and LD₅₀ of azadirachtin against S. litura is reported to be 1.1 g/g [J. Entomol. Res., b 11 (2), 166 (1987)]. It has been reported to exhibit sterilant, insecticidal, delay in egg hatching, growth inhibitory and antifeedant activities at a dosage of 10-100 ppm against Epilachna verivestis (Maxican bean beetle, Coleoptera (Z pflakrankh pflaschutz, 82 (3), 176 (1975); Z. Angew Entomol, 93, 12 (1982);

Systemic action of azadirachtin through roots to leaves has been reported by Saxena et al [J. Econ. Entomol., 77 (2) 502 (1984)].

The drawing accompanying this specification shows the structure of azadirachtin in formula 1 which was established in 1986 by three groups of workers [Tetrahedron, 43, 2789; 2805, 2817 (1987)].

Till this time more than 80 tetranortriterpenes and derivatives of azadiraachtin have been isolated from neem extracts. Some of them are mentioned here: -nimbinene, nimbandiol, azadiradione, salannin, vilasinin, gedunin, meldenindiol and nimbin. Out of them at least 35 triterpene derivatives show either insect antifeedant activity, growth-inhibitory activity or both. For example azadirachtin A, B, D, E, F and G show insect growth inhibitory activities against Epilachna verivestis at a dosage of 1-10 ppm [Insecticides of Plant Origin, ACS Symposium series, 387, 150 (1989)]. Similarly 3-tigloylazadirachtol has exhibited 97% antifeedant activity at a dosage of 1.0 ppm [Tetrahedron, 45, 5175 (1989)]. Amongst other compounds azadiradione, azadirone, 6-deacetylnimbinene, epoxyazadiradione, gedunin, nimbandiol, salannin and salannol have shown antifeedant and growth-inhibitory activity against E. Verivestis [Proceedings, 2nd International Neem Conference 181 (1983)]. Azadirachtin has been reported to be active against nematodes and whitegurbs [Entomol. Exp. Appl., 24, 448 (1978).

Synthetic insecticides belonging to the class of organochlorine and organophosphorous are found to be quite toxic to mammals, fish, honeybees etc. They pollute the ecosystem by their toxicity and residual action. In addition they cause serious health hazards to human beings. In view of this there is an urgent need to look for safer alternatives and plant products appear to be the right choice because of their relatively low toxicity and biodegradability.

With the above objective we have made extensive research on the pest control properties of the extract from neem seeds and have observed that if the undesirable components viz. the saturated fats and the water soluble compounds including sugars are removed, the resulting extract is enriched with the required active compounds viz. the triterpenoids and the unsaturated fats.

Neem seed extract contains essentially four components namely saturated and unsaturated fats, triterpenoids and water soluble compounds containing sugars. Of these, triterpenoids exhibit insect-antifeedant and growth-inhibitory activity while the unsaturated fats possess insecticidal activity against aphids,, mites, jassids, cotton white flies and other soft bodied insects. Of the remaining two, saturated fats are inactive and phytotoxic (above 2% dosage) and the water soluble sugars act as insect attractants and fungal growth promoters. Both these are undesirable in the formulation of pest control agents from neem.

In the known processes of preparing insecticidal composition from neem no attempt has been made to separate all the above said four components so that the concentration of the required compounds, the triterpenoids and the unsaturated fats can be used advantageously for pest control purposes. Some of the processes involve expelling neem oil which contains a low percentage (0.05) of active triterpenoids and directly use for pest control purposes. In some other processes the neem is extracted using a solvent like (hexane) to obtain an oil containing low percentage (0.05) of the active triterpenoids. Consequently, due to the very low percentage of the terpenoids these oils used directly for pest control purposes do not have desirable pest control properties.

A mixture of neem oil, karanja oil, mohua oil, gingely oil, castor oil has also been used but it exhibits phytotoxic properties in field trials. Neem based fertilizer in which neem extractive (crude) is blended with urea and sold as a fertilizer is also commercially available.

In the process of the present invention we have removed all the drawbacks of the existing processes by complete extraction of neem seed powder and solvent partitioning in one step using two immiscible solvents, forming two layers, one solvent, layer containing the lipids and the other solvent layer containing the triterpenes and water soluble compounds including sugars. The second solvent layer is treated with a polar solvent in which the triterpenes only are soluble, thus separating them from the undersired sugar fraction by filtration/decantation. Thus, in two steps the active rich triterpenoid fraction exhibiting insect antifeedant and growth-inhibitory activity is obtained which is free from the undesirable lipids and water soluble compounds including sugars. The percentage of the active triterpenoid fraction is about 2.5% based on the seed powder.

Similarly the separation of the undesirable saturated fat (9%) from the total lipids has been achieved by fractional crystallisation from acetone at 0°-10° C. The saturated fats, at the above temperature solidify and are removed by filtration and the unsaturated fats remain in the mother liquor.

During our continued research in the field of pest control agents we observed that 1) neem seed extract is more active biologically than the extract of any other part of the neem tree. 2) Neem seed extract is more active than neem seed kernel extract as the husk or hull of the seeds also contains active principles. 3) Neem seed extract is more active than the expelled oil 4) Triterpene fraction of the seed extract exhibits antifeedant activity and insect-growth inhibiting activity, while the lipid fraction rich in unsaturated fats is responsible for aphidicidal, miticidal and insecticidal activity against sucking pests and soft bodied insects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides new triterpene derivatives of azadirchtin from the parts of neem plant (A indica). These new triterpenes have the formulas 2-11 shown in the drawings accompanying this specification.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a process for the preparation of the said new triterpenes.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a process for the preparation of an extract containing these new triterpenes which are useful as insecticidal compositions.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a process for the preparation of insecticidal compositions containing lipids.

Though any part of the neem plant can be used in carrying out the present invention disclosed herein, it is preferred to employ the seed or the neem cake powder due to the above findings--that neem seed extract and neem seed cake extract have excellent insect-control activity.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the structure of azadirachtin.

FIG. 2 shows triterpenes of Formulas 2-4.

FIG. 3 shows triterpenes of Formulas 5-8.

FIG. 4 shows triterpenes of Formulas 9-11.

FIG. 5 is the HPLC chromatogram of the triperpene active fraction.

In the formulas and in the specification disclosure, Tig represents tigloyl, Bez represents benzoyl and Ac represents acetyl.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, present invention provides a process for the isolation of new triterpene derivatives of azadirachtin having the formulas 2-11 shown in the drawing accompanying the specification, from the parts of the neem plant, which comprises:

a. grinding the parts of the neem plant to get a powder;

b. extracting the powder with a binary immiscible solvent consisting of one polar and another non-polar solvent in the ratio of 1:2 to obtain an extract;

c. filtering the extract to obtain a filtrate having 2 layers--one layer containing lipids and another layer containing new triterpenes, azadirachtin and water soluble sugars;

d. separating the layers by known methods;

e. concentrating the polar solvent layer containing the new triterpene derivatives of azadirachtin and water soluble constituents;

f. treating the resultant concentrate with a polar solvent; and

g. filtering/decanting the resultant solution to produce a filtrate containing the mixture of new triterpene derivatives of azadirachtin of the formulas 2-11 and known triterpenes including azadirachtin, separating the new triterpene derivatives of azadirachtin by column chromatography.

The separation of the new derivatives may be done using elutes such as ethyl acetate, benzene, acetone and, pet-ether 120 g of triterpene-active fraction was subjected to column chromatography over Silica gel (60-120 mesh size, 2 kg) using acetone:pet-ether as the elution gradient to collect four broad fractions A (25 g), B (20 g), C (45 g) and D (20 g).

Fraction D (20 g) was put for further fractionation by column chromatography over Silica gel (60-120 mesh, 750 g) using chloroform:methylcyanide as the elution gradient to collect five broad fractions D1 (4 g), D2 (5 g), D3 (1.5 g), D4 (2 g), D5 (7 g) which contained mainly the azadirachtin and azadirachtin derivatives. Out of these, D1 and D2 fractions contained mainly salannin, salannol, nimbandiol and vilasinnin and its derivatives. D3 and D4 fractions contained azadirachtin and its derivatives and D5 fraction contained mostly polar compounds.

Azadirachtin and its new derivatives were isolated from D3 and D4 fractions by repeated column chromatography and preparative TLC using different solvent mixtures such as acetone:pet-ether (4:6), ethylacetate:benzene (9:1) and chloroform:methylcyanide (5:2). The Rf values of the ten new azadirachtin derivatives are different in each solvent system. But we could say that the compound No. (2), (4), (8), (9) and (10) are less polar than azadirachtin in all of the three above solvent systems and the remaining five compounds are more polar than azadirachtin. The structures of the above new azadiirachtin derivatives were established by spectral data (Chart 1 and 2).

__________________________________________________________________________1 H-NMR DATA OF COMPOUND 2-11 (CHART-1)__________________________________________________________________________Ser. No.   2      3      4      5      6__________________________________________________________________________1-H     3.58(m)          4.68(dd)                 4.66(dd)                        3.40(m)                               5.34(dd)          (2.75;3.0)                 (2.7;3.1)     (2.65;2.60)2-H     1.32(ddd)          2.36(ddd)                 2.34(ddd)                        2.38(ddd)                               2.32(ddd)   (16.2;2.65;3.1)          (16.3;2.8:3.2)                 (16.2;2.8;3.1)                        (16.3;2.65;3)                               (16.38;3.48;3.22)2-H     2.12(ddd)          2.16(ddd)                 2.20(ddd)                        2.32(ddd)                               2.29(ddd)   (16.2;2.95;2.8)          (16.3;3.0;2.8)                 (16.2;3.0;2.8)                        (16.3;3.1;2.65)                               (16.38;3.22;3.11)3-H     5.45(t)          4.48(t)                 5.44(t)                        5.48(t)                               5.50(t)   (2.7;3.1)          (2.7;2.8)                 (2.7;2.9)                        (2.75;2.8)                               (2.7;3.08)5-H     3.3(d) 3.09(d)                 3.30(d)                        3.24(d)                               3.34(d)   (12.5) (12.5) (12.5) (12.5) (12.5)6-H     4.40(dd)          4.15(dd)                 4.44(dd)                        4.48(dd)                               4.43(dd)   (12.5;2.7)          (12.5;2.75)                 (12.5;2.8)                        (12.5;2.65)                               (12.5;3.73)7-H     4.62(d)          4.65(d)                 4.64(d)                        4.8(d) 4.62(d)   (2.7)  (2.65) (2.65) (2.63) (2.2)9-H     2.62(s)          3.32(s)                 3.30(s)                        3.30(s)                               2.62(s)11-H    4.50(s)          --     --     4.53(s)                               5.38(s)15-H    4.56(d)          4.58(d)                 4.64(d)                        4.50(d)                               4.55(d)   (3.20) (3.20) (3.20) (3.20) (3.20)16-H    1.65(ddd)          1.60(ddd)                 1.65(ddd)                        1.70(ddd)                               1.66(ddd)   (13.0;3.5;5.3)          (13.0;3.5;5.3)                 (13.0;3.5;5.4)                        (13.0;3.35;5.0)                               (13.0;3.8;5.8)16-H    1.28(d)          1.32(d)                 1.30(d)                        1.32(d)                               1.25(d)   (13.2) (13.0) (13.0) (13.0) (13.27)17-H    2.40   2.38(d)                 2.36(d)                        2.40(d)                               2.34(d)   (5.0)  (5.0)  (5.0)  (5.0)  (5.03)18-H    1.95(s)          2.05(s)                 1.198(s)                        2.08(s)                               1.93(s)19-H    3.58(d)          3.62(s)                 3.60(d)                        3.62(d)                               3.77(s)   (9.6)  (8.0)  (8.5)  (9.2)19-H    4.00(d)          3.62(s)                 4.02(d)                        3.90(d)                               3.77(s)   (9.6)  (8.0)  (8.5)  (9.2)21-H    5.65(s)          5.64(s)                 5.60(s)                        5.60(s)                               5.63(s)22-H    5.05(d)          5.00(d)                 5.0(d) 5.06(d)                               5.03(d)   (2.9)  (2.9)  (2.9)  (2.85) (2.9)23-H    6.40(d)          6.42(d)                 6.42(d)                        6.44(d)                               6.48(d)   (2.9)  (2.9)  (2.9)  (2.85) (2.9)28-H    4.02(d)          3.80(d)                 4.16(d)                        4.06(d)                               4.06(d)   (9.0)  (7.6)  (7.8)  (9.0)  (4.76)28-H    3.80 (d)          3.70(d)                 3.80(d)                        3.74(d)                               3.72(d)   (9.0)  (7.6)  (7.8)  (9.0)  (8.8)29-H    --     1.04(s)                 --     --     --30-H    1.76(s)          1.74(s)                 1.73(s)                        1.42(s)                               1.29(s)7-OH    --     2.78(brs)                 --     --     2.8(brs)11-OH   --     5.00(s)                 --     --     3.26(br.s)14-OH   --     3.06(br.s)                 --     --     3.06(br.s)12-OCH3   3.65(s)          --     3.65(s)                        3.68(s)                               --29-OCH3   3.76(s)          3.77(s)                 3.75(s)                        3.78(s)                               3.77(s)CH3 COO   1.84(s)          1.83(s)                 1.93(s)                        2.02(s)                               1.83(s)Tigloyl 6.88(qq)          6.95(qq)                 Benzoyl gr.                        --     6.95(qq)3'-H    (7.0;1.3)          (7.0;1.3)                 2'-7.9(m)                        --     (7.0;1.34)                 6'-7.7(m)4'-H    1.76(dq)          1.74(dq)                 3'-7.57(m)                        --     1.74(dq)   (7.0; 1.01)          (7.0;1.01)                 4'-7.4(m)                        --     (7.06,1.01)                 5'-7.6(m)5'-H    1.84(dq)          1.81(dq)                 --     --     1.81(dq)   1.5,1.01)          (1.5;1.01)           (1.5;1.01)__________________________________________________________________________Compound No.   7      8      9      10     11__________________________________________________________________________1-H     4.93(t)          4.60(t)                 3.74(t)                        4.72(t)                               3.62(dd)   (2.9;3.1)          (2.85;3)                 (2.9;3.0)                        (2.9;3.1)                               (2.9;3.0)2-H     2.38(ddd)          2.33(ddd)                 2.36(ddd)                        2.28(ddd)                               2.76(ddd)   (16.0;2.9;2.7)          (16.0;2.7;2.8)                 (16.0;2.6;2.8)                        (16.2,2.9,2.6)                               (18.2;2.9;2.65)2-H     2.14(ddd)          2.14(ddd)                 2.16(ddd)                        2.13(ddd)                               2.12(ddd)   (16.0;2.7;2.8)          (16.0;2.7;2.8)                 (16.0;2.6;2.8)                        (16.2;2.6;2.9)                               (16.2;2.6;2.85)3-H     5.30(t)          5.15(dd)                 5.45(t)                        5.48(t)                               3.76(t)   (2.9;3.1)          (2.9;3.1)                 (2.9;3.0)                        (2.9;3.0)                               (2.8;3.2)5-H     3.10(d)          3.30(d)                 3.30(d)                        3.30(d)                               3.16(d)   (12.5) (12.5) (12.5) (12.5) (12.5)6-H     4.04(dd)          4.04(dd)                 4.13(dd)                        4.42(dd)                               4.16(d)   (12.5;3)          (12.5;3.0)                 (12.5;3)                        (12.5;3.2)                               (12.5;9.0)7-H     4.65(s)          4.44(d)                 4.64(d)                        4.48(d)                               4.62(d)   (3.0)  (3.0)  (3.20) (3.2)  (3.0)9-H     2.60(s)          4.24(s)                 4.02(s)                        3.48(S)                               4.02(s)11-H    3.75(m)          --     --     --     --   --     3.85(d)(14.0)                 --     --     --12-H    3.92(br.s)          5.40(d)(14.0)                 --     --     --15-H    4.55(d)          4.62(d)                 4.2(d) 4.18(m)                               4.60(d)   (3.2)  (3.2)  (3.0)         (3.0)16-H    1.60(ddd)          1.60(ddd)                 1.67(ddd)                        1.80(m)                               1.65(m)   (13.0;,3.4;5.0)          (13.0;3.4;5.0)                 (13.0;3.4;5.1)16-H    1.26(ddd)          1.26(d)                 1.30(d)                        1.90(m)                               1.92(m)   (13.0) (5.0)  (5.0)17-H    2.40(d)          2.58(d)                 2.42(d)                        2.16(m)                               2.14(m)   (5.0)  (5.0)  (5.0)18-H    2.00(s)          1.98(s)                 2.07(s)                        1.55(s)                               2.04(s)19-H    CH3 -1.32(s)          1.23(s)                 1.40(s)                        3.66(d)                               CH3 -1.45(s)                        (9.7)19-H                         4.28(d)                        (9.7)21-H    5.62(s)          5.60(s)                 5.62(s)                        5.65(s)                               5.62(s)22-H    5.05(d)          5.05(s)                 5.04 (s)                        4.88(s)                               1.88(s)   (2.90) (2.90) (3.0)  (2.9)  (2.9)23-H    6.40(d)          6.40(d)                 6.40(d)                        6.36(d)                               6.36(d)   (2.90) (2.90) (3.0)  (2.9)  (2.9)28-H    3.70(br.s)          4.55(s)                 3.72(d)                        3.69(d)                               3.65(d)          (9.0)  (9.6)  (8.8)  (8.6)28-H    3.70(br.s)          3.85(d)                 3.60(d)                        4.04(d)                               3.92(d)          (9.0)  (9.0)  (8.8)  (8.5)29-H    1.05(s)          --     --     --     --30-H    1.58(s)          1.68(s)                 1.73(s)                        1.68(s)                               1.60(s)7-OH    --     2.58(br.s)                 2.8(br.s)                        --     --11-OH   --     --     --     --     --14-OH   --     2.92(br.s)                 2.95(br.s)                        --     --12-OCH3   --     --     --     3.68(s)                               3.68(s)29-OCH3   --     3.72(s)                 3.78(g)                        3.76(s)                               3.78(s)          1.98(s)CH3 COO   1.86(s)          1.92(s)                 2.02(s)                        1.98(s)                               --Tigloyl 6.93(qq)          6.94(qq)                 --     6.88(qq)3'-H    (7.0;1.34)          (7.0;1.30)                 --     (7.0;1.3)4'-H    1.78(dq)          1.78(dq)                 --     1.75(dq)   (7.0;1.1)          (7.0;1.1)                 --     (7.0;1.1)                               --5═-H   1.83(dq)          1.84(dq)                 --     1.84(dq)   (1.34;1.1)          (1.30;1.1)                 --     (1.3;1.11)__________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________13 C-NMR DATA COMPOUND 3 AND 6 (CHART-2)        3          6______________________________________C-1            70.8478(d)   72.928(d)C-2            29.5797(t)   29.577(t)C-3            68.9088(d)   67.115(d)C-4            42.3927(s)   52.3129(s)C-5            35.663(d)    36.998(d)C-6            74.9161(d)   72.215(d)C-7            76.4206(d)   74.018(d)C-8            44.9545(s)   43.335(s)C-9            44.7298(d)   48.499(d)C-10           49.8957(s)   47.760(s)C-11           103.9192(s)  100.911(d)C-12           171.6262(s)  --C-13           69.9268(s)   66.917(s)C-14           69.9220(s)   69.946(s)C-15           76.2910(d)   76.147(d)C-16           24.9646(t)   25.255(t)C-17           48.8888(d)   48.132(d)C-18           18.2318(q)   18.570(q)C-19           72.5881(t)   72.928(t)C-20           83.4946(s)   83.384(s)C-21           108.8309(d)  108.545(d)C-22           107.2595(d)  107.509(d)C-23           146.8451(d)  147.074(d)C-28           77.35(t)     77.425(t)C-29           18.9414(q)   173.428(s)C-30           21.0782(q)   20.824(q)COOCH3    53.0748(q)   52.452(q)CH3 COO   169.7945(s)  169.657(s)CH3 COO   20.7701(q)   2.485(q)OTig;C-1'           166.1988(s)  166.510(s)C-2'           128.6384(s)  128.689(s)C-3'           137.1983(d)  137.941(d)C-4'           14.1673(q)   14.237(q)C-5'           11.8579(q)   11.804(q)______________________________________

According to a feature of the invention, there is provided a process for the preparation of new insecticidally active compositions containing the above referred new triterpenes including azadirachtin and its derivatives from the neem plant which process comprises:

a. grinding the parts of the neem plants to get a powder;

b. be extracting the powder with a binary immiscible solvents consisting of one polar and the other non-polar solvent in the ratio of 1:2 to obtain an extract;

c. filtering the resultant extract to get a filtrate having two layers one layer containing lipids, and other containing the new triterpenes including azadirachtin and its derivatives and water soluble constituents including sugars;

d. separating the layers by known methods;

e. concentrating the layer containing triterpenes including the azadirachtin and its derivatives and water soluble constituents including sugars;

f. treating the resultant concentrate with a polar solvent and

g. filtering the resultant solution to produce a filtrate containing the mixture of new triterpenes including azadirachtin and its derivatives.

It is found that the fraction in the polar solvent phase consists of triterpenes, azadirachtin and its derivatives in the range of 40-60% along with some water soluble compounds such as sugars, glucosides, and amino acids. The non-terpenenic portion which has been found to be water soluble can easily be removed from the terpenic portion by any known methods such as by partitioning between water and water immiscible polar solvents. Examples of water immiscible polar solvents which can be used are ethylenedichloride, chloroform, carbontetrachloride, ethylacetate, n-butanol, isobutanol and the like. Alternatively, the triterpenic active fraction can be separated by dissolving it in polar solvents like ethylenedichloride, ethyalacetate, acetone and chloroform. The final triterpene fraction obtained by this method amounts to 2-5% based on the seed powder. This fraction contains at least 35 triterpenes related to azadirachtin of which 25-30 are biologically active. The known triterpenes include salannin, gedunin, azadiradione, azadirone, salannol acetate, epoxyazadiradione, nimbandiol, salannin derivatives, salannol derivatives, azadirchtin and new derivatives of azadirachtin. All these compounds are found to exhibit insect antifeedant and growth inhibitory activities.

The lipid fraction (i.e. the layer containing the lipids) obtained during partitioning in the non-polar solvent i.e. step c) consists of mono-, di- and triglycerides of fatty acids, sulphur compounds, straight chain hydrocarbons, straight chain esters of fatty alcohols and acids, phyosterols and their esters and less polar triterpenes and free fatty acids of the type, oleic, stearic, linoleic, arachidoic and tiglic is found to exhibit insecticidal activity against soft bodied insects and sucking pests such as aphids, mites, cotton white fly, jassids, etc. The activity of the fraction is enhanced by dissolving the total lipid fraction in a polar solvent and chilling the resultant solution to a temperature in the range of 0°-10° C. for a period ranging from 10-20 hrs. The solid separating out under the above conditions is filtered and the solvent removed from the filtrate preferably by distillation to give the active fraction. This active fraction consisting of enriched unsaturated lipids is found to constitute 8-12% based on the seeds and in the case of neem cake it is found to be 4-6%.

The liquid fraction (2 kg) was dissolved in acetone (3 liters) and the solution was chilled at 0° to -10° C. for 12 hrs. The chilled product was filtered quickly and the filtrate was concentrated by distilling acetone and the residue obtained weighed 1 kg. It consists of mostly unsaturated fatty acids, unsaturated glycerides, hydrocarbons, sulphur compounds, phytosterols (sitosterol, stigmsterol, campesterol) and less polar triterpenes such as gedunin, azadirone, zadirodione, nimbin, deacetylnmibin etc.

According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a process for the preparation of a new insecticidally active composition containing lipids enriched with unsaturated fats from the part of the neem plant which comprises:

a. grinding the parts of the neem plant to get a powder;

b. extracting the powder with a mixture of two immiscible solvents consisting of one polar and other non-polar in the ratio of 1:2 to obtain an extract;

c. filtering the resultant extract to get a filtrate having two separable layers, one layer containing the lipids and the other containing the triterpenes including azadirachtin and the derivatives of azadirachtin and water soluble constituents including sugars;

d. separating the layers by known methods;

e. concentrating the non-polar solvent layer containing the lipids to obtain the total lipids and

f. dissolving the above lipids in a polar solvent and chilling the solution in the range of 0° to -10° C. for 12 hrs and filtering to produce a filtrate containing unsaturated lipids.

By way of examples the polar solvents which can be employed are chloroform, ethanol, methanol, isobutanol, n-butanol, ethylenedichloride and the like. The non-polar solvents which can be used are selected from hexane, heptane, pentane, benzene, toluene and the like.

The present invention is illustrated by the examples given below which should not be constructed to limit the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

Neem seeds which were stored for at least 2-4 months after collection were powdered and 10 kg of the powder was stirred with 30 liters of methanol:hexane (1:2) for 2 hours and filtered. The filtrate containing two layers, one of methanol and the other of hexane were separated and the solvents removed from both the layers to yield the triterpenes alongwith water soluble polar compounds 0.7 kg. The lipid portion weighed 1.8 kg. 0.7 kg of the methanol extract was treated with warm (about 40° C.) acetone and decanted. The clear solution was stripped off the solvent to give triterpene-rich insect control agents, 250 g.

The triterepene active fraction (120 g) was separated by using column grade Silica gel (60-120 mesh size) and acetone:pet-ether solvent mixture with increasing percentage of acetone as the elution gradient was used to collect four broad fractions A (25 g), B (32 g), C (45 g) and D (18 g).

Rechromatography of fraction D (18 g) on Silica gel using ethyl acetate-benzene with increasing polarity of ethyl acetate resulted in five broad fractions D1 (4 g), D2 (6 g) , D3 (1.5 g) , D4 (2 g) and D5 (4.5 g). D3 (1.5 g) fraction was again rechromatographed on Silica gel (60-120 mesh) with chloroform:methylcyanide as the eluent with the increasing percentage of methylcyanide to give the mixture of compounds (2), (4), (8), (9) and (10) along with less polar and more polar compounds. Preparative TLC on Silica gel (400 mesh) of this fraction with ethylacetate benzene (9:1) enriched the above (2), (4), (8), (9) and (10) compounds. The enriched fraction containing the above compounds was separated by preparative TLC Silica gel (400 mesh size) with chloroform:methylcyandie (5:2) as the solvent system gave each compound in 75% purity. Again each compound was purified by preparative TLC (Silica gel, 400 mesh) with acetone:pet-ether (4:6) as solvent system gave the pure compounds (2), (4), (8), (9) and (10).

D₄ (2 g) fraction was again subjected to column chromatography over column grade Silica gel (60-120 mesh) using ethylacetate:benzene with increasing percentage of ethylacetate which gave a crude mixture of five more polar compounds (3), (5), (6), (7) and (11) along with the less and more polar minor components. The above crude mixture was put on preparative TLC (Silica gel, 400 mesh size) with chloroform:methylcyanide (5:2) which gave each compound in 50% pure form. Each of the above 50% pure compounds was again loaded on preparative TLC (Silica gel, 400 mesh size) with acetone:pet-ether (4:6) to enrich it to 90% purity and again each was finally purified to obtain all the more polar compounds (3), (5), (6), (7) and (11) by using ethylacetate:benzene (9:1) as solvent system on preparative TLC (400 mesh size, Silica gel).

EXAMPLE 2

Neem seeds which were stored at least for 2-4 months after collection were powdered and 10 kg of the powder was stirred with 30 liters of methanol:hexane (1:2) for 2 hours and filtered. The filtrate containing two layers, one of methanol and other of hexane were separated and the solvents removed from both the layers to yield the triterpenes alongwith water soluble polar compounds 0.7 kg. The lipid portion weighed 1.8 kg. 0.7 kg of methanol extract was treated with warm (about 40° C.) acetone and decanted. The clear solution was stripped off the solvent to give triterpone-rich pest control agents 250 g.

The triterpenes-active fraction (150 g) was separated by using column grade Silica gel (60-120 mesh size) and acetone:pet-ether solvent system with increasing percentage of acetone as the elution gradient to collect four broad fractions A (30 g), B (42 g), C (55 g) and D (26 g).

Rechromatography of fraction (26 g) on Silica gel (60-120 mesh) using chloroform:methylcyanide resulted in five broad fractions D₁ (9 g). D₂ (4 g), D₃ (4 g), D₄ (5 g) and D₅ (4 g).

D₃ (4 g) fraction was again put on column for further separation over Silica gel (60-120 mesh size) with acetone:pet-ether with increasing, percentage of acetone which gave the mixture of (2), (4), (8), (9) and (10) alongwith less and more polar constituents. Preparative TLC of this mixture on Silica gel (400 mesh size) enriched the above five compounds (2), (4), (8), (9) and (10) with ethylacetate:benzene (9:1) to 50% purity. The enriched fraction containing the above compounds was further separated by preparative TLC on Silica gel (400 mesh size) with chloroform:methylcyanide as solvent system (5:2) to give each of the above compounds in 75% purity. Again each one was purified on preparative TLC (Silica gel, 400 mesh size) with acetone:pet-ether (4:6) which gave the pure compounds.

D₄ (4 g) fraction was again subjected to column chromatography over column grade Silica gel (60-120 mesh) using chloroform:methylcyanide with increasing percentage of methylcyanide which gave a crude mixture of five more polar compounds (3), (5), (6), (7) and (11) alongwith the less and more polar compounds. The above crude mixture was separated on preparative TLC (Silica gel, 400 mesh size) with ethylacetate:benzene (9:1) which gave the each compound in 50% pure form. The above 50% was again loaded on preparative TLC (Silica gel, 400 mesh size) with chloroform methylcyanide (5:2) to give 90% pure compounds and finally they were purified by preparative TLC using acetone:pet-ether (4:6) to get very pure compounds viz. (3), (5), (6), (7) and (11).

The antifeedant activity of all the compounds was evaluated as follows:

A test solution containing 20 ppm of each compound was prepared. Weighed discs of leaves were treated with the above solution and the larvae of Heliothis armigera were released on these treated leaves. An untreated control experiment was run simultaneously. The weight of the leaves after 24 hrs and 48 hrs were recorded to evaluate the antifeedant activity of the compounds. Table 1 shows antifeedant activity of compounds 3,5 and 6.

              TABLE 1______________________________________Compound of    % Protectionthe formula    After 24 hr                    After 48 hr______________________________________3              50        605              50        606              75        80______________________________________

EXAMPLE 3

Neem seeds which were stored for at least 2-4 months after collection, were powdered and 10 kg of the powder was stirred with 30 liters of methanol:hexane (1:2) for 2 hrs and filtered. The filtrate containing two layers, one of the methanol and the other of hexane were separated by using a separatory funnel and the solvents removed from both the layers to yield triterpenes including azadirachtin and its derivatives along with water soluble polar compounds weighing 0.7 kg. The lipid portion weighed 1.8 kg.

0.7 kg of the aqueous methanol extract was treated with 7 liters of warm acetone (35°-40° C.) in three lots and the acetone solubles were decanted and the solvent removed to yield the triterpene active fraction weighing 250 gms. The residue (450 gms) which was insoluble in acetone was discarded. Azadirachtin content in the above triterepene active mixture was estimated by HPLC using (60:40) methanol:water 1 ml/ml C-18 reverse phase column and 215 nm UV detector. Azadirachtin peak was identified by comparing with that of authentic sample and the percentage of azadirchatin was found to be 8%.

EXAMPLE 4

Neem cake (10 kg) obtained by expelling the oil in an expeller was stirred with 90% aq. methanol and hexane (30 liters. 1:2) for 2 hrs and filtered. The aqueous methanol layer and the hexane layer were separated in a separatory funnel and the solvents removed separately to give 0.8 kg of the aqueous methanol solubles and 0.8 kg of lipid fraction respectively.

The aqueous methanol solubles 0.8 kg was shaken with 10 liters of isobutanol and water (1:1) and isobutanol layer was separated in a separatory funnel which was distilled off to give triterpene active fraction, 280 gms.

Azadirachtin content of the above triterpene active fraction using HPLC (50:50, methanol:water, 1 ml/ml C-18 reverse phase column) and the UV detector at 217 nm was found to be 10%.

EXAMPLE 5

Neem seed powder (10 kg) was extracted with stirring with a mixture of aqueous methanol (85%) and heptane (30 liters, 1:2) and filtered. The filtrate consisting of both aqueous methanol and heptane layers was separated in a separatory funnel and the solvents removed to give aqueous methanol solubles (0.75 kg) and the lipid fraction in the heptane solubles (2.0 kg).

Methanol solubles (0.75 kg) were partitioned between ethylenedichloride and water (3 liters each) and ethylenedichloride the layer was separated and concentrated to give 250 gms of triterpone active fraction. Azadirachtin content using HPLC at 215 nm UV wavelength and acetonitrile:water (80:40) 1 ml/ml C-18 reverse phase column was found to be 9%.

1. The HPLC chromatogram of the triterpone active fraction is depicted in FIG. 5.

2. The bioefficacy data generated for triterpene active fraction at 1000 ppm are given in Table 2.

              TABLE 2______________________________________BIOEFFICACY DATA OF TRITERPENE ACTIVEFRACTION DURING FIELD TRIALS ON VARIOUSCROPS AND COMPARISON WITH OTHER NEEMBASED INSECT-CONTROL AGENTS.______________________________________             Plot size 6 m × 1 m             No. of seedlings damaged by             larvae of Spodoptera lituraTobacco nursery   Days after spraying    Product           2           9______________________________________1.  Triterpene active fraction                 3.04        2.502.  Commercial sample 1                 3.27        3.443.  Commercial sample 2                 3.50        3.084.  Commercial sample 3                 4.77        5.315.  Control           8.37        8.91______________________________________    Mustard            Plot size 6 m × 6 m    Product            Yield (Quintal/Hectare)______________________________________1.  Triterpene active fraction                  14.52.  Commercial sample 1                  13.73.  Commercial sample 4                  11.74.  Control            9.5______________________________________Cotton            Plot size 8 m × 8 mPercentage bud damage due to spotted bollworm Erias vittella;percentage boll damage due to pink bollworm Pectinophoragossipiella and seed cotton yield (Quintal/hectare).    Product      % bud damage                        % boll damage                                  Yield______________________________________1.  Triterpene   32.1        25.4      18.9    active fraction2.  Commercial   32.6        26.5      17.7    sample 13.  Commercial   39.7        32.7      14.6    sample 34.  Control      45.4        38.5      11.7______________________________________Safflower         Plot size 5 m × 5 mPercentage of capitula damage due to Helithis armigera and yield(Quintal/hectare)    Product           % Capitula damage                               Yield______________________________________1.  Triterpene active fraction                 26.5          15.42.  Commercial sample 1                 30.4          13.63.  Commercial sample 4                 36.5          12.74.  Control           52.5          11.4______________________________________Sorghum           Plot size 6 m × 6 mDead heart percentage due to shootfly Atherigona Soccata, andsorghum stem borer Chilo pertellus.            % Dead   % Dead  % Dead heart            heart    heart after                             due to stem    Product      21st day 28 days borer.______________________________________1.  Triterpene   21.8     32.7    10.6    active fraction2.  Commercial   25.4     36.9    14.7    sample 13.  Commercial   26.5     37.6    17.6    sample 34.  Control      35.6     42.8    38.5______________________________________Sorghum: GRAIN AND FODDER YIELD               Grain yield Fodder yield    Product         Quintal/hectare                           Tonne/hectare______________________________________1.  Triterepene active               16.1        8.7    fraction2.  Commercial sample 1               14.3        6.93.  Commercial sample 3               12.5        6.74.  Control         8.6         5.4______________________________________

EXAMPLE 6

Neem seeds which were stored for at least 2-4 months after collection were powdered and 10 kg of the powder was stirred with 30 liters of aqueous (85%) methanol:hexane (1:2) for 2 hours and filtered. The filtrate containing two layers one of methanol and other of hexane were separated and the solvents removed from both the layers to yield the triterpenes along with water soluble polar compounds 0.7 kg and 1.8 kg of the lipid fraction respectively.

The lipid fraction (1 kg) was dissolved in acetone (1.5 liters and chilled to 0° to -10° C. for 12 hrs. The solid separated was filtered at 0° C. and the filtrate containing the unsaturated lipids was concentrated to give the lipid-active fraction, 0.5 kg. The saturated fats were used for other purposes.

EXAMPLE 7

Neem cake obtained by the expelling oil in an expeller (20 kg) was stirred with 85% aqueous methanol and hexane (60 liters) (1:2) for three hours and filtered. The aqueous methanol layer and the hexane layer were separated and solvent removed separately to give 1.6 kg of mixture of triterpenes and water soluble polar compounds and 1.6 kg of lipid fraction.

The lipid fraction (1 kg) was dissolved in 1 liter of ethylene dichloride and chilled to 0° to -10° for 12 hrs and the solid separated was filtered. The filtrate containing the unsaturated lipids were concentrated to give the lipid active fraction 0.450 kg. The saturated fats were used for other purposes.

EXAMPLE 8

Neem seeds which were stored at least for 2-4 months after collection were powdered and 10 kg of the powder was stirred with 30 liters of methanol:hexane (1:2) for 2 hours and filtered. The filtrate containing two layers one of methanol and other of hexane were separated and the solvents removed from both the layers to yield the triterpenes along with water soluble polar compounds 0.7 kg and 1.8 kg of the lipid fraction respectively.

The lipid fraction (1 kg) was dissolved in 1 liter of ethylacetate and chilled at 0° to -10° for 12 hrs. The solid separated was removed by filtration at 0° and the filtrate which contained unsaturated lipids was concentrated to give the lipid active fraction, 0.6 kg. The saturated fats were used for other purposes.

The bioefficacy data generated during field trials at 4000 ppm with lipid-active fraction on different aphids on various crops are given in Table 3 which also shows a comparative bioefficacy with those of some neem pesticides.

              TABLE 3______________________________________BIOEFFICACY DATA OF LIPID-RICH ACTIVEFRACTION DURING FIELD TRIALS AGAINSTDIFFERENT APHIDS ON VARIOUS CROPS.(Number denotes the average number of apids/5 plants).______________________________________Day after  Lipid activespray      Fraction    Margosan-O  Neemark______________________________________Precount   48.7        48.2        46.21st spray1          40.0        31.2        40.22.         31.2        27.7        30.24.         18.7        27.0        35.210.        16.2        28.2        37.714         22.2        30.0        37.015 second spray1          17.7        24.7        20.22          15.0        18.5        25.04          15.2        27.2        27.710         16.2        35.7        30.514         22.2        38.2        37.215 Third spray1          17.2        31.2        30.22          20.2        27.7        40.74          22.0        29.5        47.010         22.7        31.7        57.014         23.7        37.5        57.015 Fourth spray1          17.7        22.2        47.22          20.7        27.5        45.04          22.5        30.7        48.210         22.5        30.0        56.214         22.0        35.0        59.0______________________________________Mustard Aphid Lipaphis erysimi; 1 plot size 6 m × 6 m   Mustard sawfly: Athalia proxima 2.      Lipid activeDay after  Fraction    Margosan-O  Jawanspray      1       2       1     2     1     2______________________________________Precount   38      11      34    13.2  38   11First spray1          20              22          282          17              18          264          15              18          3010         15              18          3214         16              21          3715 Second spray1          12      7       17    7     30   102          12      7       17    7     27   104          10      7       15    7     29   1010         11      8       15    8     31   1014         12      8       16    8     34   1115 Third spray1          13      5       10    6     35   92          13      5       11    6     30   94          15      6       11    7     32   910         15      7       11    7     37   914         17      7       13    7     39   1015 Fourth spray1          12      5       10    6     27   82          10      5       11    6     25   84          11      6       12    7     29   910         11      6       12    7     34   914         13      6       15    8     39   11______________________________________Safflower   Aphid: Daetynotus carthami Plot size 5 m × 5 mDay after  Lipid activespray      Fraction    Margosan-O  Jawan______________________________________Precount   37          39          37First spray1          24          22          302          21          17          274          17          17          2510         18          18          2114         18          15          3715 Second spray1          8           8           282          6           8           204          6           9           1810         7           13          1914         6           14          2715 Third spray1          3           9           202          3           9           174          4           9           1710         6           11          2214         6           13          2615 Fourth spray1          1           7           182          4           7           174          4           11          1110         6           14          2214         7           16          26______________________________________Sorghum Apid: Schizophis Sorshiella Plot size 6 m × 6 mDay after  Lipid activespray      Fraction    Margosan-O  Neemark______________________________________Precount   31.5        36.5        39.5Third spray1          16.2        30.2        30.22          16.0        26.2        27.75          17.2        24.2        22.510         18.2        26.7        28.514         19.2        29.5        29.215 Fourth spray1          13.5        21.7        21.52          14.5        21          17.75          14.0        23.7        21.510         15.2        26.3        24.714         15.5        28.2        29.2______________________________________