Brusatol isolated from Brucea javanica (L.) Merr. induces apoptotic death of insect cell lines

- Activity-guided fractionation of Brucea javanica led to the isolation of brusatol.
- The structure of brusatol was identified by crystallographic analysis.
- Brusatol has potent insecticidal activities against larvae of Spodoptera exigua.
- Brusatol demonstrated cytotoxic effects to the tested insect cell lines.
- Brusatol induced apoptosis involved caspase-3 activation and cytochrome c release.