Pinitol, a larval growth inhibitor forHeliothis zea in soybeans

Abstract
A search for insect growth inhibitors in methanol extracts of soybean leaves resulted in isolation of pinitol. Pinitol caused a 50% reduction in weight gain (ED50) ofHeliothis zea larvae at about 0.7% when added to a synthetic diet. Although myo-inositol is a normal component of the insect diet, it also caused growth inhibition at higher concentrations; ED504%.