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Bioflavonoids as a New Growth Factor for the Cricket, Acheta domesticus¹

Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65201

The growth rate of the house cricket, Acheta domesticus (L.), was increased two- to threefold when grass or other natural materials were added to a diet which contained all known nutrients for this insect. The growth factor from grass was organic in nature, heat stable, soluble in water and several organic polar solvents, and insoluble in acid and nonpolar organic solvents. The active dried butanol solubles of grass were extracted with methanol and petroleum ether. When the methanol fraction was washed with a water-chloroform mix, more of the activity went into the water fraction. These characteristics make this growth factor similar to those reported for other insects. Thin-layer chromatographic, solubility, staining and fluorescent properties indicated the presence of bioflavonoid compounds. Subsequently rutin, hesperidin, hesperidin methylchalcone and esculin each produced a significant increase in the growth rate of crickets. The activity of rutin was greater than all other compounds tested. The results suggest the possible development of an acceptable assay for the biological activity previously identified as vitamin P.

² Present address: Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas School of Medicine, Galveston, Texas.

Manuscript received 17 February 1971.