Potential insecticidal extracts from Artocarpus lacucha against Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae.

Artocarpus lacucha, a plant in the Moraceae family, has traditionally been used in Southeast Asian medicine to treat various ailments. This study investigated the insecticidal potential against Spodoptera litura of several compounds extracted from A. lacucha using a topical application method. A sequential extraction method was employed with A. lacucha stems to identify the most toxic crude extract by using hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol solvents. Subsequently, the most toxic crude extract was analyzed for chemical composition by HPLC, followed by the isolation process. Among these crude extracts, the ethyl acetate crude extract was the most toxic to second-instar S. litura larvae (24-h LD50 value of ~9.07 µg/larva). Our results showed that the catechin isolated from the ethyl acetate crude extract exhibited the highest toxicity against this insect (24-h LD50 value of ~8.37 µg/larva). Additionally, catechin significantly decreased the activities of acetylcholinesterase, carboxylesterases, and glutathione S-transferase in the larvae. These findings suggest that catechin isolated from A. lacucha could be a potential insecticidal agent against S. litura. However, the toxicity and persistence of catechin under field conditions need to be further investigated to develop this novel insecticide.

Effect of Plant Essential Oils and Their Major Constituents on Cypermethrin Tolerance Associated Detoxification Enzyme Activities in Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Essential oils are well known to act as biopesticides. This research evaluated the acute toxicity and synergistic effect of essential oil compounds in combination with cypermethrin against Spodoptera litura Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The effects of distillation extracts of essential oils from Alpinia galanga Zingiberaceae (Zingiberales) rhizomes and Ocimum basilicum Lamiaceae (Lamiales) leaves; one of their primary essential oil compounds 1,8-cineole; and linalool were studied on second-instar S. litura by topical application under laboratory conditions. The results showed that A. galanga had the highest control efficiency, whereas1,8-cineole provided a moderate efficacy. The mixtures of linalool, 1,8-cineole, O. basilicum, or A. galanga with cypermethrin were synergistic on mortality. Activity measurements of the main detoxification enzymes show that linalool and 1,8-cineole inhibit the activity of cytochromes P450 and carboxylesterases, which could explain their synergistic effect. Based on our results, the use of these mixtures represents an ideal eco-friendly approach, helping to manage cypermethrin resistance of S. litura.

The Study of Isolated Alkane Compounds and Crude Extracts From Sphagneticola trilobata (Asterales: Asteraceae) as a Candidate Botanical Insecticide for Lepidopteran Larvae.

The antifeedant and contact toxicity of Sphagneticola trilobata L. (Asterales: Asteraceae) extracts and isolated alkane compounds were investigated. Leaves of S. trilobata were sequentially extracted with hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol. Each extract and the compounds isolated were evaluated against the third instars of Spodoptera litura (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae). Ethyl acetate extract and isolated alkanes were feeding deterrents as well as contact toxins against all the three species evaluated (FI50 ~ 0.27-2.34 mg/ml; LD50 ~ 0.88-4.2 µg/larvae for ethyl acetate extract, and FI50 ~ 0.06-4.35 mg/ml; LD50 ~ 0.72-3.54 Ethyl acetate extract for isolated alkane). Impact on detoxifying enzymes was variable. The ethyl acetate crude extract reduced carboxylesterase activity in S. litura and P. xylostella while in S. exigua the enzyme was induced. In contrast, glutathione-S-transferase activity was induced in S. exigua but no significant difference in P. xylostella and S.litura was observed. Our results suggest that the S. trilobata extracts have multiple biological activities that contribute to the toxicity in lepidopterans. Variable enzyme responses to the products evaluated in different lepidopteran species also confirm that some species-specific inductions do occur, suggesting the possibility of resistance development in the future, which cannot be summarily ignored. However, for this detailed biochemical studies are required. Multiple bioefficacies of S. trilobata makes it a potential botanical for further exploitation on larger scale so that field potential can be established in any integrated pest management (IPM) system.