Bioactivity of some medicinal plants on insect pest vector

Abstract

Medicinal plants contain natural chemicals which are acceptable to animal as well human systems; so called as Chemical Goldmines . For medicinal purpose humans have been dependent on medicinal plants since the beginning of civilization. This treasure can be explored for insect pest/vector management. Since these plants have properties such as Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Antiparasitic, laxative, insect relent/attractant, Insect growth regulating etc. due to some chemicals called as Allelochemics which plays significant role in defense against insects. newlineIn present endeavor four medicinal plants wiz. Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), Curcuma longa (Turmeric), Zingiber officinalis (Ginger), Pelargonium graveolens (geranium) were assessed for bioactivities against couple of insect pest/vector which are well to cause economic as well as health problems to human beings and are Musca domestica L. (House fly), Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (Potato tuber moth). House fly is cosmopolitan, vector causing not only nuisance but also transmits disease causing organisms. While the other one, Potato tuber moth causes serious damage to economically important crop Potato. newlineIn case of house fly P. graveolens showed promise in both larvicidal (161.72 µg/cm2) and Adulticidal activity (106.66 µg/cm2). It also decreased the carbohydrate content by 14.09 mg/gm body weight; while 0.39 µmole/ml/min decease was observed in case of Invertase activity. W. somnifera also deserves the special mention as it has delayed the development by 11.3 days. It also showed 74% and 55 % repellency and oviposition deterrence respectively. newlinePersual of results in case of potato tuber moth reveals that Z.officinalis showed promise in toxicity assays (Larvicidal Activity: 116.452 µg/cm2, Adulticidal activity: 201.127 µg/cm2). W. somnifera also exhibited promising IGR activity. C. longa and Z. officinalis found effective in Repellent assay and Oviposition deterrence assay. newline newline