Phytochemical profiling and insecticidal activity of <i>Moricandia sinaica</i> across growth stages: experimental and molecular docking insights

BACKGROUND: Stored food products are highly vulnerable to infestation by insects and mites, resulting in significant postharvest losses worldwide. Plant-derived bioactive compounds represent promising eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic pesticides. This study investigated the phytochemical composition of Moricandia sinaica at different growth stages and evaluated its insecticidal activity against Plodia interpunctella larvae, complemented by molecular docking analysis. RESULTS: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed clear stage-dependent variations in volatile composition. At the flowering stage, hexahydrofarnesylacetone, 1,8-cineole, and α-thujene were predominant, whereas mature plants were characterized mainly by hexahydrofarnesylacetone, α-pinene, and dihydroactinidiolide. Fatty acid analysis showed that palmitic acid remained the dominant component, although it decreased, while oleic and stearic acids increased at maturity. Insecticidal bioassays showed concentration- and time-related increases in larval mortality against P. interpunctella larvae. Molecular docking suggested that major fatty acids may interact with residues located within the carbohydrate-recognition region of β-1,3-glucan-binding protein 3 (GNBP3), providing a predictive hypothesis that requires further experimental validation. CONCLUSION: The results highlight Moricandia sinaica as a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in environmentally friendly pest management strategies for stored products. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.