ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Evaluation of the insecticidal activity of bioactive N-heterocycle molecules against Aphis nerii and Tribolium castaneum

Mokhtar A. Abdul-Malik, Abdel Haleem M. Hussein, Adel M. Kamal El-Dean, Mohamed R. Fouad, Nagwa M. A. Al-Nagar, Amany D. Abd-Elnabi, and Shaban A. A. Abdel-Raheem

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Science, Taiz University, Taiz, Yemen

E-mail: mokh.amin@taiz.edu.ye

Received: 14 November 2025  Accepted: 30 January 2026

Abstract:

This exploratory study determined the insecticidal activity for a series of bioactive N-heterocycles of pyridine derivatives (1, 3, 4a-c, and 5a-c) against Aphis nerii and Tribolium castaneum using leaf-dip and residue-film bioassays over 12, 24, and 48 h. The results demonstrated significant variability in toxicity among the tested compounds. Notably, compounds 4a, 5a, and 5b demonstrated exceptionally low LC₅₀ values at 12-h of 0.41, 0.003, and 0.27 µg/mL against Aphis nerii, respectively, while compounds 4a, 5a, and 5c exhibited low LC₅₀ values of 0.79, 0.55, and 0.50 µg/cm² against T. castaneum, indicating their high insecticidal potency. The results of the bioactivity assay reveal that structural differences significantly influence insecticidal activity, with certain derivatives demonstrating superior efficacy across different test durations. These findings suggest that these compounds are promising candidates for further development as effective insecticides.

Graphical abstract

Keywords: N-heterocycles; Pyridine derivatives; Insecticidal activity; Aphis nerii; Tribolium castaneum

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-026-04710-y

Chemical Papers 80 (5) 5285–5294 (2026)