Abstract:
The oil palm leaf miner, Coelaenomenodera lamensis Berti and Mariau (Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae) is the most important pest of oil palm endemic to West Africa. The use of synthetic insecticides has been employed in controlling the pest, although it poses a major threat to the environment and human health. Recently the use of natural products from plants as insecticides has been practiced widely in agricultural production. In a study for a more environmentally safe insecticide, we found that the parts of some Ghanaian plants are effective in controlling this pest. The methanol extracts of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides (Roots) and Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) were screened against the leaf miner to determine their insecticidal activity against the pest. Bioassay guided isolation led to the isolation of (2E, 4E)-N-(2- methylpropyl)deca-2,4-dienamide (pellitorine) from the roots of Z. zanthoxyloides whiles three major cardanol derivatives, (Z)-3-(8- pentadecenyl)phenol, (8Z,11Z)-3-(8,11- pentadecadienyl)phenol and (8Z,11Z)-3-(8,11,14-pentadecatrienyl)phenol (2-3) were isolated from CNSL. Currently, these botanicals are being applied under field conditions to determine their efficacy as well.