Toxicity of some bioactive medicinal plant extracts to Asian army worm, Spodoptera litura

Abstract

Comparative toxicity of Andrographis paniculata (leaves), Anethum graveolens (leaves), Azadirachta indica (fruits), Cassia fistula (seeds), Cuscuta reflexa (stem), Dendropthoe falcata (leaves), Lantana camara (leaves and fruits), Melia azedarach (leaves) and Vitex negundo ( stem) plant extracts against 2nd days (first instar) and 6th days(third instar) old larvae of Spodoptera litura was studied at 5 and 10mg/ml concentration. D. falcata leaves (98.58%) and A. indica fruits= C. reflexa (85.72%) were most effective in reducing weight gain in 2nd days old larvae at 5mg/ml and at 10mg/ml, C. reflexa (98.58) followed by C. fistula seeds and L.camara fruits(both 92.86%) were effective in retarding growth. L.camara fruit extract (99.43 and 99.93%) showed greater toxicity and reduced growth as compared to A. graveolens leaves (76.16% ) at 5mg/ml. At 10mg/ml L.camara (99.94%) and A. paniculata (89.54%) leaves exhibited reduction in weight gain over control against 6d old larvae. All the medicinal plants showed varying degree of toxicity. D.falcata, A.indica and L.camara exhibited high larval mortality as compared to the other plant extracts.