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Antifeedant and larvicidal activities of Acalypha fruticosa Forssk. (Euphorbiaceae) against Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) larvae
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +91 44 2817 8348; fax: +91 44 2817 5566 entolc@hotmail.com (S. Ignacimuthu)
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Received: ,
Accepted: ,
This article was originally published by Elsevier and was migrated to Scientific Scholar after the change of Publisher.
Available online 2 June 2010
Abstract
Antifeedant and larvicidal activities of hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts of Acalypha fruticosa Forssk. Leaves were studied using leaf disc no-choice method against third instar larvae of Plutella xylostella L. Chloroform extract showed maximum antifeedant activity of 92.8% at 5% concentration with a LC50 value of 1.86%. Nine fractions were collected from the chloroform extract (30 g) by silica gel column chromatography, among which the seventh fraction (eluted by 100% ethyl acetate) recorded maximum antifeedant activity (84.3%) at 1000 ppm concentration with a LC50 value of 385.7 ppm against the third instar larvae of P. xylostella. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of this effective fraction showed the presence of terpenoids, tannins, coumarins, anthraquinones and saponins.
Keywords
Acalypha fruticosa
Phytochemicals
Antifeedant
Larvicidal
Plutella xylostella
Introduction
Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. is a serious pest of cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, mustard, radish and turnip (Atwal, 1976; Eusebion and Rajesus, 1996; Capinera, 2001; Mohan and Gujar, 2003). Due to intensive use of insecticides, this insect has developed resistance to nearly all classes of insecticides (Shelton et al., 1993) including Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crystal (Cry) toxins (Sayyed and Wright, 2002). Outbreaks of P. xylostella in Southeast Asia often caused more than 90% crop loss (Verkerk and Wright, 1996), mainly because it produced numerous generations per year and was able to rapidly increase in numbers (Rowell et al., 2005). The lack of effective natural enemies and the destruction of natural enemies by chemical insecticides contributed to the rise of pest status of this insect in many regions (Waterhouse and Norris, 1987; Ooi, 1992).
It is imperative to discover a novel ecofriendly pesticide against this pest. Several investigators have screened many plant products against P. xylostella. Morallo-Rejesus (1986) has recorded the oviposition and repellent activity of plants belonging to Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Euphorbiaceae families. Ling et al. 2008 found that Momordica charantia leaf extract and compounds showed strong feeding deterrent activity and developmental inhibition in P. xylostella larvae.
The present work was undertaken to study the efficacy of hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts and fractions of Acalypha fruticosa Forssk. leaves, against P. xylostella larvae. A. fruticosa is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicines to cure stomachache, digestive disorders, dyspepsia, colic and diarrhoea (Sripathi and Uma, 2010). No previous reports are available on the biological activity of A. fruticosa against P. xylostella.
Materials and methods
Plant collection
Leaves of A. fruticosa Forssk. were collected from Maruthamalai hills, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India. The plant was authenticated by a plant taxonomist from the Division of Ethnopharmacology Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai. A voucher specimen (ERIH 1351) has been deposited at the herbarium of Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai.
Preparation of plant extract
Leaves were shade dried at room temperature and powdered by an electric blender. One kilogram of leaf powder was soaked in 3 L of n-hexane for a period of about 72 h and extracted through Buchner funnel with filter paper. The filtrate was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure using rotary vacuum evaporator. The remains of the plant material were extracted with chloroform and ethyl acetate sequentially in a similar manner.
Chromatographic separation of fractions
The crude chloroform extract was subjected to column chromatography. A glass column (8 cm diameter:60 cm long) was packed with silica gel (240 g-acme’s 100–200 mesh) and an admixture of crude chloroform extract (30 g) and silica gel (60–120 mesh) was loaded on the top of the silica gel column. The column was continuously eluted with n-hexane followed by different combinations of n-hexane:chloroform, chloroform: ethyl acetate and ethyl acetate:acetone ranging from 95:5 to 0:100, 5:95 to 0:100 and 50:50 to 100, respectively. Fractions were collected in 200 mL conical flasks and they were checked with thin layer chromatography (TLC). Based on the TLC patterns similar fractions were pooled together and nine major fractions were finally obtained.
Insects
P. xylostella L. larvae were obtained from a culture that was maintained on cauliflower heads at laboratory conditions (26 ± 1 °C; 11 ± 0.5 h photoperiod; 65–70% R.H.). Newly emerged third instar larvae were used in bioassay studies.
Treatment schedule
Different concentrations of crude extracts viz., 0.625%, 1.25%, 2.5% and 5% and fractions viz., 125, 250, 500 and 1000 ppm were prepared by dissolving required amount of crude or fraction in 500 μL of acetone and made up to 20 vmL with distilled water.
Antifeedant activity experiment
Antifeedant activity of crude extracts and fractions were studied following leaf disc no-choice method. Fresh and tender cauliflower leaf discs of 3 cm diameter were punched using cork borer; the leaf discs were dipped in different concentrations of crude extracts and fractions separately and air dried for 3 min. One treated leaf disc was kept in a petri plate and a single 4 h pre-starved third instar larva of P. xylostella was introduced into the petri plate. The leaf discs treated with acetone were used as solvent control and azadirachtin (40.86% purity, obtained from EID-Parry, India Ltd., Chennai) was used as a reference control. Each test was replicated 24 times. Progressive consumption of leaf area by the larva in 24 h period was recorded in control and treatments using leaf area meter (Delta-T Devices, Serial No. 15736 F 96, UK). Leaf area consumed in treatment was corrected from the control. Antifeedant activity was calculated by the modified formula of Bentley et al. (1984):
Larval mortality bioassay
For toxicity bioassay experiment, third instar larvae were treated by oral application through cauliflower leaf discs. Concentrations were the same as in the antifeedant bioassay. After 24 h of treatment the larvae were continuously maintained on non-treated fresh cauliflower leaves. Diet was changed every 24 h. Larval mortality was recorded up to 96 h of treatment. Twenty four replicates were maintained for each treatment.
Preliminary phytochemical analysis
Phytochemical analysis of all the nine fractions was carried out following the method of Harborne (1998).
Statistical analysis
Antifeedant and larvicidal activities of the different crude extracts and fractions were statistically analyzed by one way Analysis of Variance. Significant differences between treatments were determined using Tukey’s multiple range test at P = 0.05. Probit analysis was done to calculate median lethal concentration (LC50) and LC90 using SPSS 11.5 version software package.
Results
Antifeedant activity of A. fruticosa crude extracts
Table 1 shows the per cent antifeedant activity of A. fruticosa crude extracts against P. xylostella larvae after 24 h treatment. Among the three solvent extracts chloroform extract recorded significantly high antifeedant activity at all four concentrations. At 0.625%, 1.25%, 2.5% and 5% concentrations of chloroform extract 25.8%, 42.8%, 78.3% and 92.8% antifeedant activities were recorded respectively. The effect of chloroform extract was statistically significant (P ⩽ 0.05). Ethyl acetate extract showed 64% antifeedant activity at 5% concentration. In all the treatments the antifeedant activity was directly proportional to the concentration of the extract.
Plant extract
Concentration (%)
0.625
1.25
2.5
5
n-Hexane
12.5 ± 1.9c
23.2 ± 2.0bc
29.6 ± 3.5c
41.4 ± 2.2c
Chloroform
25.8 ± 1.4a
42.7 ± 3.2a
78.3 ± 3.3a
92.8 ± 4.8a
Ethyl acetate
19.2 ± 0.5b
26.5 ± 2.5b
50.6 ± 4.2b
64.0 ± 5.1b
Larvicidal activity and lethal concentrations of crude extracts
Among the three different solvent extracts tested chloroform extract was identified as the most toxic treatment against third instar larvae of P. xylostella at 5% concentration. Chloroform extract recorded 69.6% larvicidal activity at 96 h. The larval mortality was directly related to the concentration of the treatments. Ethyl acetate extract also recorded high larval mortality. The chloroform extract showed LC50 value of 1.86% and LC90 value of 6.27% (Table 2). The Chi-square values were significant at P ⩽ 0.05 level. The high Chi-square values in the bioassays probably indicated the heterogeneity of the test population. Different crude and fractions influenced larval mortality differently.
Chromatographic separation of chloroform extract of A. fruticosa
The crude chloroform extract of A. fruticosa yielded nine fractions when it was separated by column chromatography.
Antifeedant activity of fractions
Table 3 shows the per cent antifeedant activity of nine different fractions of chloroform extract of A. fruticosa against third instar larvae of P. xylostella after 24 h treatment. Among the nine different fractions, fraction seven (eluted by 100% ethyl acetate) recorded significantly high antifeedant activity at 125 (39.6%), 250 (56.4%), 500 (62.2%) and 1000 (84.3%) ppm concentrations compared to other fractions. Azadirachtin was used as reference control. The active fraction (7) was found to be significantly more effective than azadirachtin at 125 and 250 ppm concentrations. However at 500 and 1000 ppm concentrations, the antifeedant activity of azadirachtin was slightly higher than fraction 7. The antifeedant activity of all fractions was directly proportional to the concentration. Fraction 8 also showed good antifeedant activity at all concentrations.
Fractions
Concentration (ppm)
125
250
500
1000
1
9.2 ± 0.5e
21.5 ± 3.5de
30.6 ± 4.2g
34.0 ± 5.0f
2
21.9 ± 0.7c
30.6 ± 1.9d
45.5 ± 3.6d
50.5 ± 1.0de
3
18.1 ± 3.3d
25.3 ± 0.6e
29.9 ± 1.5g
38.5 ± 5.0ef
4
22.5 ± 1.0c
31.2 ± 1.2d
39.7 ± 1.4e
52.3 ± 1.0de
5
18.1 ± 3.7d
31.7 ± 3.0de
35.4 ± 2.9f
57.9 ± 3.8d
6
23.4 ± 1.3c
37.2 ± 2.6c
49.9 ± 3.6cd
68.8 ± 3.0d
7
39.6 ± 0.7a
56.3 ± 3.5a
62.2 ± 1.2b
84.3 ± 1.5b
8
27.4 ± 1.8b
41.2 ± 2.9c
54.9 ± 2.1c
76.8 ± 6.0c
9
16.1 ± 3.3d
29.7 ± 3.0de
32.3 ± 2.9f
37.4 ± 1.3ef
Azadirachtina
24.5 ± 0.8c
46.9 ± 3.4b
68.4 ± 3.8a
89.5 ± 5.0a
Larvicidal activity and lethal concentration of fractions
Fraction 7 recorded the maximum larvicidal activity at all concentrations. At 125, 250, 500 and 1000 ppm concentrations fraction 7 recorded 24.7%, 42.9%, 50.5% and 66.7% larval mortality respectively. Table 4 shows that fraction 7 required the least median lethal concentration (LC50) of 385. 7 ppm for 96 h. The lower and upper limits for 95% confidence were calculated as 273.5 and 563.6 ppm respectively for fraction 7. The LC90 of fraction 7 was calculated as 1025.3 ppm which was the least concentration compared to other fractions. The Chi-square values were significant at P ⩽ 0.05 level.
Fractions
LC50 ppm
95% Confidence limit
LC90 ppm
95% Confidence limit
Chi-Square
Upper
Lower
Upper
Lower
1
3035.72
1773.40
9913.48
6932.91
4732.94
10240.06
2.642*
2
1715.57
1179.16
3377.23
1839.78
1249.94
13066.07
2.548*
3
745.72
596.72
1023.08
4955.44
2140.62
12719.43
3.208*
4
1320.12
1025.94
1968.29
5423.80
3213.18
13369.29
2.946*
5
902.86
652.94
1387.07
1845.08
1198.00
25530.27
0.868*
6
1105.92
702.75
3097.65
3746.11
1499.91
19928.75
0.611*
7
385.72
273.55
563.66
1025.37
785.93
13990.84
0.814*
8
1033.25
858.84
1298.07
2437.96
1943.43
28420.00
0.611*
9
993.52
755.76
1396.98
1759.79
1177.36
29639.16
4.466*
Azadirachtina
271.48
223.97
321.84
1420.50
1038.70
2285.64
0.233*
Preliminary phytochemical analysis of fractions
The preliminary phytochemical analysis of all the fractions was done to identify the type of phytochemical groups present in them. The results indicated that more phytochemical groups were present in fractions 6 and 7 (Table 5). The effective fraction 7 contained maximum number of phytochemical groups namely terpenoids, tannins, coumarins, anthraquinones and saponins. Fractions 1, 3, 4, 5 and 9 contained only one phytochemical group.
Phytochemical
Fractions
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Steroids
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
Terpenoids
+
−
−
−
−
+
+
−
−
Phenol
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
Tannin
−
−
+
−
−
+
+
+
+
Coumarin
−
−
−
+
+
+
+
−
−
Flavonoid
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
Quinone
−
+
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
Anthraquinone
−
+
−
−
−
+
+
+
−
Alkaloids
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
Saponins
−
−
−
−
−
−
+
−
−
Discussion
The antifeedant and insecticidal bioassays clearly indicated that chloroform extract of A. fruticosa leaves was more effective than hexane and ethyl acetate treatments. Feeding deterrent activity of plant extracts and plant products against P. xylostella has been reported by many investigators (Ling et al., 2008; Patil and Goud, 2003). Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Meliaceae), Acorus calamus L. (Araceae) and Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae) treatments were found to inhibit P. xylostella feeding after 24 h of treatment (Patil and Goud 2003). An important finding in this study was that the most effective antifeedant treatment also gave the maximum larvicidal activity. Koul et al. (2004) and Chen et al. (1996) also stated that Aglaia elaeagnoidea extract caused maximum antifeedant as well as larvicidal activities against Helicoverpa armigera and Pieris rapae. Ling et al. (2008) also reported that Mimordica charantia ethanol extract had both feeding deterrent and larvicidal activities against P. xylostella. Fraction 7 was composed of five different phytochemical groups namely, terpenoids, tannins, coumarins, anthraquinones and saponins. Already terpenoids (Lago et al., 2002; Nathan et al., 2005), tannins (Lago et al., 2002), anthraquinones (Lingathurai et al., 2010) and coumarins (Baskar et al., 2010) in plants were reported to be antifeedants and insecticides against H. armigera and rice leaf folder larvae. Tannins are generally considered to be harmful to lepidopteran insects (Coley et al., 1985). The maximum insecticidal and antifeedant activity of fraction 7 might be due to the additive effect of these five phytocompounds. Paulraj and Ignacimuthu (2010) reported that the solvent extracts of mangrove plants Bruguiera cylindrica and Rhizophora apiculata, which contained flavonoids and quinones showed higher antifeedant and insecticidal activities against Atractomorpha crenulata adults and Epilachna viginioctopunctata grubs. Presence of more than one major phytocompound inhibited the growth of microbes and insects (Park et al., 2002; Mansour et al., 2004; Ahmad and Aqil, 2007). Saponins were reported to be insecticidal by many investigators (Marston and Hostettmann, 1985; Jeong et al., 2004; Sparg et al., 2004; McGaw et al., 2008). Tabashnik (1985) has reported that the secondary plant compounds, coumarins and rutins, were known to deter P. xylostella oviposition. Jackson and Peterson (2000) stated that the legume Melilotus officinalis (L.), containing coumarin, was toxic to P. xylostella. A. fruticosa belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. Morallo-Rejesus (1986) reported that plants belonging to Euphorbiaceae family were highly repellent to P. xylostella and other lepidopteran pests.
In conclusion the plant A. fruticosa showed feeding deterrent and insecticidal activities against the larvae of P. xylostella. Since the active fraction possessed both antifeedant and larvicidal activities a single application of this phytopesticide in cruciferous crops can reduce crop damage as well as pest population.
Acknowledgement
The authors are grateful to the Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai, India for financial assistance.
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