Oxidative and genotoxic effects of juglone on the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera:Pyralidae)

In this study aimed to investigate the effects of the oxidative and genotoxic effects of juglone which is an important phytochemical compound on the greater wax moth G. mellonella; an model organism and a serious pest in wax. Investigation of all parameters assessed within the scope of the study was carried out on the larvae, the harmful stage of the pest. For this purpose, the insecticidal effect of the juglone was determined with probit analysis by applying technical juglone at different doses to the diets of the first instars of G. mellonella. Juglone showed insecticidal effect on the larval stage of the pest and lethal (LD99) and median lethal doses (LD50) were determined as 6.1 and 2.3 mg/ 2g in diet, respectively. According to LD50 dose of juglone, the effective doses of 0.5, 1 and 2 mg in 2 g of diet were used for the ecotoxic and genotoxic analyses. It was determined that antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, and GST) and the amount of MDA showed dose-dependent changes in hemolymph of last instars of G. mellonella treated with dietary juglone doses with respect to untreated larvae, but it was determined that there is no change in GPx enzyme activity in treated and untreated larvae. To determine whether juglone has genotoxic effects on larvae, DNA fractions and micronucleus formation were analyzed using COMET and micronucleus assays. As a result of these analyzes, it was determined that significant damage occurred in the genome of insect due to the increase of the juglone doses. In conclusion, our project results show that effective doses of juglone are ecotoxic and genotoxic on the larval stage of pest and model organism G. mellonella.