Termiticidal Activity ofParkia biglobosa(Jacq) Benth Seed Extracts on the TermiteCoptotermes intermediusSilvestri (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Abstract

The chemical and mineral composition of raw and boiled seeds of the African locust bean,Parkia biglobosa(Jacq) Benth, was determined while the termiticidal action of the aqueous, alcoholic, and acetone extracts of the bean seeds were investigated. Variations in the proximate and mineral composition of the raw and boiled seeds were obtained while heavy minerals such as cadmium, cobalt, lead, nickel, and copper had been leached out of the seed during the process of boiling. Extracts from the raw seeds exhibited varying degree of termiticidal activity, while extracts from the boiled seed had no effect on the workers ofCoptotermes intermediusSilvestri. Alcoholic extracts were more active than the aqueous and acetone extracts. Termites die within 30 min, 40 min, and 110 min when exposed to concentration of 4 g mL−1treatments of alcoholic, aqueous, and acetone extracts, respectively.