芫菁体内斑蟊素的合成、 转移和生物学功能

斑蟊素是芫菁科昆虫合成的一种防御物质, 已经被证实对多种癌症和其他疾病有着特殊的疗效。芫菁体内存在不同结合态的斑蟊素或斑蟊素衍生物, 包括斑蟊素酸镁、斑蟊素酸钙、羟基斑蟊素、甲基斑蟊胺和脱甲斑蟊素等。不同芫菁种类、不同发育阶段其斑蝥素合成量有显著的差异, 并且有着典型的性二型现象, 性成熟的雄成虫斑蝥素含量最高可达10%。关于斑蝥素的生物合成途径以及斑蝥素在虫体内的分布, 尽管有一些研究, 但仍然没有定论。本文从斑蟊素在芫菁体内的含量、分布、生物合成、代谢及生物学功能等方面对国内外的研究进行概括, 以期为充分发掘芫菁科昆虫资源、指导芫菁的人工养殖、合理的利用资源以及人工合成斑蟊素提供参考。

Biosynthesis,transfer and biological function of cantharidin in blister beetles(Coleoptera:Meloidae)

Cantharidin is a kind of defensive substance which is synthesized by blister beetles, and it has been proven that cantharidin has special efficacy to cure several cancers, such as liver cancer and lung cancer, and some other diseases. The cantharidin can exist in free cantharidin, bound cantharidin and derivants in blister beetles, such as magnesium cantharidate, calcium cantharidate, cantharidinimide, dimethyl anhydride, hydroxyl-cantharidin, demethyl-cantharidin and so on. The volume of the chemical may vary depending on the sex, age, mating records and feeding conditions. The cantharidin measure can reach as high as 10% in some sexually matured male beetles. Though there are some research reports, no final conclusions about biosynthesis pathway of cantharidin and its distribution in the body of meloid have been achieved yet. In this article, we make a review of the cantharidin on its content, distribution, biosynthesis, metabolism and biological function in blister beetles. This review may be helpful for understanding the biosynthesis pathway of cantharidin, full excavation of meloid insect resource, guiding artificial breeding of the insects and rational use of the resources, and artificial synthesis of cantharidin.