African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 5 (10), pp. 936-940, 16 May 2006   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2006 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Insecticidal activity of four medicinal plant extracts against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Rachid JBILOU¹, Abdeslam ENNABILI², Fouad SAYAH ¹*

¹Centre des Etudes Environnementales Méditerranéennes (CEEM), Laboratoire de Biologie Appliquée & Sciences de l'Environnement, Université Abdelmalek Essaâdi. Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, BP 416, 9000 Tanger, Maroc.

²Institut National des Plantes Médicinales et Aromatiques, Université Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah. BP 8691, 30100 Fès, Maroc.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: fsayahb@yahoo.fr. Tel:  00 212 62 59 62 75. Fax : 00 212 39 39 39 53.

Accepted 11 April, 2006

Abstract

Methanol extracts from four medicinal plants, Peganum harmala (Zygophyllaceae), Ajuga iva (Labiateae), Aristolochia baetica (Aristolochiaceae) and Raphanus raphanistrum (Brassicaceae) were studied for their insecticidal effects on the stored grain pest Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). Response varied with plant species. Larvae growth was significantly inhibited when they were fed with extracts incorporated into the diet. Good insecticidal activity against T. castaneum larvae and adults was achieved with extract of P. harmala seeds, followed by extract of A. iva, Ari. baetica and R. raphanistrum aerial parts. The extracts of the four plants disrupted the developmental cycle of the insect. Extracts of P. harmala, A. iva and Ari. baetica inhibited F1 progeny production. These naturally occurring plant extracts could be useful for managing populations of T. castaneum.

Key words: Ajuga iva, Aristolochia baetica, Peganum harmala, Raphanus raphanistrum, Tribolium castaneum.