Metabolite profiling and in-silico studies show multiple effects of insecticidal actinobacterium on Spodoptera littoralis.

The polyphagous pest, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval), poses a significant global economic threat by gregariously feeding on over a hundred plant species, causing substantial agricultural losses. Addressing this challenge requires ongoing research to identify environmentally safe control agents. This study aimed to elucidate the insecticidal activity of the metabolite (ES2) from a promising endophytic actinobacterium strain, Streptomyces sp. ES2 EMCC2291. We assessed the activity of ES2 against the eggs and fourth-instar larvae of S. littoralis through spectrophotometric measurements of total soluble protein, α- and β-esterases, polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and catalase enzyme (CAT). The assessments were compared to commercial Biosad® 22.8% SC. Untargeted metabolomics using LC-QTOF-MS/MS identified 83 metabolic compounds as chemical constituents of ES2. The median lethal concentration (LC50) of ES2 (165 mg/mL) for treated Spodoptera littoralis eggs showed significant differences in polyphenol oxidase and catalase enzymatic activities, while the LC50 of ES2 (695 mg/mL) for treated S. littoralis fourth instar larvae showed lower significance in α- and β-esterase activities. Molecular docking of ES2 identified seven potent biocidal compounds, showing strong affinity to PPO and catalase CAT proteins in S. littoralis eggs while displaying limited binding to alpha and beta esterase proteins in the larvae. The results contribute to the understanding of ES2 as a promising alternative biopesticide, providing insights for future research and innovative applications in sustainable pest management strategies.