Volume: 47 Issue: 3
Cyclotides: Promising plant peptides for sustainable pest management and crop protection
Year: 2025, Page: 118-135, Doi: https://doi.org/10.62029/jmaps.v47i3.jisna
Received: June 17, 2025 Accepted: Jan. 28, 2026 Published: May 18, 2026
The rising threat of crop losses due to insect resistance and restrictions on chemical pesticides has created a demand for sustainable pest control solutions. Recently, peptides have gained attention as an effective crop-protection agent. Among them, a unique family of cyclic peptides known as cyclotides stands out as a promising bioinsecticide. They are composed of 28 to 40 amino acids with a cyclic backbone and a cystine knot motif. Their stability against thermal, chemical and enzyme degradation is a useful trait for crop protection in challenging environmental conditions. Cyclotides can be a natural alternative to synthetic pesticides with their potent insecticidal activity and minimal environmental impact. This review explores the potential of cyclotides in insect pest control, focusing on their unique structural features, mode of action, and applications. Furthermore, case studies demonstrating the insecticidal activity of cyclotides in target pests are also discussed. Other challenges, such as methods of production, interaction with non-target pests, and regulatory approval, must be addressed elaborately to facilitate their widespread adoption in agriculture as a bioinsecticide.
Keywords: Agriculture, Cyclotide, Cystine knot, Insecticides, Plant peptides.
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