Effect of seed extracts of Withania somnifera, Croton tiglium and Hygrophila auriculata on behavior and physiology of Odontotermes obesus (Isoptera, Termitidae)

Abstract

In addition to antibiotic properties, medicinal plants are important sources of chemicals with potential application as pesticides. The present study deals with antitermitic potential of seed extracts of Withania somnifera (Indian ginseng), Croton tiglium (jamalgoota) and Hygrophila auriculata (talimkhana). The seed extracts caused changes in tunneling behaviour, number of bacterial colonies in hindgut and activities of enzymes in midgut of Odontotermes obesus. C. tiglium showed the lowest LT50 (12.85 and 2.65 h) among the three seed extracts at concentrations of 50% (half dilution of the extract) and 100% (extract without dilution), respectively. There was no tunneling in soil treated with 100% concentration of seed extracts of W. somnifera and C. tiglium. Numbers of bacterial colonies in the gut of termites from soils treated with 50% and 100% concentrations of the three plants did not differ significantly, but they differed from those in termites from untreated soil. At 50% concentrations of seed extracts of the tested plants, the difference in hindgut enzyme activities was not obvious, however, at 100% concentrations the enzyme activities in the termites from soils treated with seed extracts significantly differed from controls and differences were also recorded between the plants.

Evaluation of Bio-preservative Potential of Parquetina nigrescens Leaf Extract against Wood Decay Fungi

“…This confirms effectiveness of the oil extract solution in enhancing decay resistance of wood [40]. The results of this study corroborate the findings of [41] and [42] who reported that seeds extract of medicinal plants such as Parquetina nigrescens could be used as fungi controlling agents. High alkaloids and tannins content in the P. nigrescens leaf extract could be responsible for antifungal property observed in the treatments with lower weight loss.…”

Withania somnifera acts as a potential insect growth regulator in the polyphagous pest, Pericallia ricini

“…Secondary metabolites of sponges were found to have potential larvicidal and pesticidal effects against P. ricini (Joseph et al 2010). Botanical insecticide, azadirachtin disrupted physiological processes such as apolysis and ecdysis and induced morphological deformities at larval and pupal stages of P. ricini (Gnanamani and Dhanasekaran 2013). Ethyl acetate extracts of Tragia involucrata showed antifeedant, larvicidal and growth inhibitory effects against this agriculturally important pest, P. ricini .…”

Preservatve Potentials of Datura metel Seed Oil on Triplochiton scleroxylon Wood (Schumann)against Fungal Attack

“…Several other research works (Singh and Sushilkumar 2008;Sotannde et al 2011;Djenontin et al 2012;Addisu et al 2014;Faruwa et al 2015) have also reported the efficacy of plants extractsas bio-preservative against fungi and termite attacks. Mazhar et al, (2013) affirmed that the seed extracts of medicinal plant offers a source of naturally occurring chemicals that could be used because of the repellent, anti-feedant or toxic effects on micro-organisms in feeding assays (Ahmed et al 2007. (Okanlawon et al, 2020) which could also be attributed to variations in physical and anatomical characteristics of Triplochiton scleroxylon wood specie and also probably due to the wood of C. petandra being lighter, softer in texture and lower in strength and coarser (Gibbs and Semir, 2003).…”