Simple Summary
The greater wax moth is a major pest of stored honeycombs and beekeeping materials, causing significant economic losses in apiculture, while also serving as a widely used insect model for testing the biological activity of new chemical compounds. This study synthesized a novel zinc-based coordination compound and investigated its effects on wax moth larvae by injecting different concentrations and measuring the activity of key antioxidant defense enzymes. Results demonstrated that the compound altered antioxidant enzyme activity in an enzyme-specific manner, with catalase activity peaking at an intermediate dose and superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase activities most strongly affected at the highest dose tested. Molecular docking analyses further showed that the compound binds effectively to the active sites of these enzymes, supporting a mechanistic basis for the observed responses. These findings offer valuable insights into the biological activity of zinc-based complexes and their potential application in wax moth management.
Abstract
The greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella, is a major pest of stored honeycombs. In this study, a novel Zn(II) 3-methoxybenzoate N,N′-diethylnicotinamide complex (Zn 3MBA DENA) was synthesized and characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The elemental composition and FT-IR spectral features were consistent with the proposed formulation of the Zn(II) complex and supported the coordination of the 3-methoxybenzoate ligand to the metal center. The effects of the Zn 3MBA DENA complex on antioxidant enzyme activities such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in G. mellonella larvae were investigated. CAT activity increased significantly at 400 and 800 mg/L, peaking at 400 mg/L, while SOD and GST activities were significantly elevated only at 800 mg/L, indicating an enzyme-specific pattern of antioxidant and detoxification enzyme activation, with threshold-dependent induction of SOD and GST at the highest concentration. Molecular docking analyses showed that the complex forms favorable, low-energy interactions with the binding sites of CAT, SOD, and GST through hydrogen bonding, π-type, and hydrophobic contacts, providing mechanistic support for the observed biochemical changes. These findings demonstrate that the Zn 3MBA DENA complex alters key antioxidant and detoxification-related enzyme activities in G. mellonella in an enzyme-specific, concentration-related manner, identifying it as a candidate compound warranting further toxicological evaluation for potential application in moth management.