Figure 3. Impact of synthetic protease inhibitors on total protease activity in gut, salivary gland and saliva of Nezara viridula.

Samples were mixed with inhibitors and pre-incubated for 30 min at 37 °C. Residual protease activity was assayed through spectrophotometric assay using Azocasein as substrate. Protease activity without inhibitor (control) was considered 100%. Statistical comparisons were conducted for each treatment compared to the control (*P ≤ 0.01; **P ≤ 0.001; ***P ≤ 0.0001; Student’s t-test).