Mexican Annonaceae with insecticidal metabolites

Plants of the Annonaceae family are characterized by diverse biological properties, among which insecticidal activity, a function derived from the presence of secondary metabolites. This review aims to present the state-of-the-art research demonstrating the insecticidal activity of Annonaceae plants found in Mexico, the secondary metabolites involved, and the target insects. A retrospective search was conducted for works on the insecticidal activity of Annonaceae plants, from 1982 to June 2025. Compounds that caused at least 50 % mortality in individuals, and the deterrent effects, or sublethal effects, were selected. This work reports insecticidal compounds obtained from seven species. Annona mucosa, A. squamosa, and A. cherimolia are the most studied species, and acetogenins from Annonaceae are the most notable molecules. The compounds are toxic to 21 insect species, the Aedes aegypti mosquito and the Spodoptera frugiperda corn fall armyworm being the most evaluated. Plants of the Annonaceae family constitute a natural resource for the study on secondary metabolites with insecticidal potential.