Comparative Study of Different Medicinal Plants Extracts as Repellency and Toxicity against Tribolium castaneum Herbst
Archana Tiwari
Department of Botany, Government P.G. College, Guna, Madhya Pradesh-473001, India.
Sakemohammed S
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Veterinary Dispensary, Kottaiyur, Tamil Nadu- 630106, India.
Kamlesh
Department of Zoology, Maharani Shri Jaya Government Post Graduate College, Bharatpur, Rajasthan- 321001, India.
Sonawane S R
Department of Zoology, Prof. Ramkrishna More College of Arts, Commerce and Science, Pune, Maharashtra- 411044, India.
Preeti Pandey
Department of Forensic Science, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab-144411, India.
Jyoti Agrawal
Government College Umarban, Indore, Madhya Pradesh-454449, India.
Amandeep Kaur
Department of Forensic Science, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab-144411, India.
Manpreet Kaur *
Department of Forensic Science, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab-144411, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Many plant species possess significant potential for use as medicinal agents, offering not only therapeutic benefits for humans and animals but also acting as natural insect repellents for the protection of stored grains. This study explores the repellency and toxicity of specific medicinal plants, particularly those that exhibit resistance to insect infestation. The investigation focused on the efficacy of the leaves of several selected plants against Tribolium castaneum, a common pest affecting stored grain products. The toxicity was evaluated by recording insect mortality at different intervals (12, 24, 48, and 72 hours) after exposure to plant extracts. Results showed that plant materials had varying effects depending on the species used, the type of insect, and the duration of exposure. Additionally, the repellent properties of the plant extracts were assessed, with the test leaves demonstrating repellency rates of 76% to 78% against Tribolium castaneum, significantly higher compared to the control group, which lacked any plant material. This study highlights the potential application of medicinal plants in pest management as a natural, eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides for grain protection.
Keywords: Medicinal plants, Tribolium castaneum, repellency, toxicity, stored grain protection, insect control, natural pest management, plant extracts, insect mortality, eco-friendly pesticides