Insecticidal Toxicity of Spilanthol from Spilanthes acmella Murr. against Plutella xylostella L.

Anuradha Sharma, Vishal Kumar, Rameshwar Singh Rattan, Neeraj Kumar, Bikram Singh

Entomology and Pesticide Residue Laboratory, Hill Area Tea Sciences (HATS) Division, Palampur, India.
Natural Plant Product Division, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR), Palampur, India.
Natural Plant Product Division, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR), Palampur, India..

DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2012.311189                

Abstract

The present study explored the Spilanthes acmella Murr. for insecticidal principle, a plant of high value. The seed extract showed insecticidal activity against Plutella xylostella. Further, bioassay guided isolation of bioactive compounds resulted in insecticidal active molecule, which was identified with the help of ESI-MS and NMR. Highest activity of 95 - 100 percent was observed at low dose of 2 g/l with spilanthol, while 60 - 70 and 80 - 90 percent mortality at 5 g/l in crude seed extracts prepared in methanol and hexane after 48 hours exposure, respectively. LC₅₀ of 1.49, 5.14, 5.04, 11.75 g/l was observed with spilanthol, crude seed extract of methanol, hexane, deltamethrin, respectively. The findings indicate the potential of S. acmella with potent insecticidal toxicity for the management of P. xylostella and other insects of agricultural importance.

Keywords

Spilanthes acmella; Insecticidal Activity; Plutella xylostella; Spilanthol; Alkamides; Extracts; Toxicity

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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