Toxicity, growth regulatory and repellent activities of medicinal plant extracts on Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidea)

Abstract

Housefly, Musca domestica, is a major vector for many medical and veterinary pathogenic organisms. The development of naturally occurring insecticides, represent one of the most promising approaches for their ecochemical control. Petroleum-ether extracts of Griffonia simplicifolia and Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides were assessed for their toxicity, growth regulatory and repellency to the housefly. Percent mortality and index of repellency induced by the extracts against the insects were found to be dose-dependent. Seed extracts of G. simplicifolia and root extracts of Z. xanthoxyloides were the most effective as toxicants and repellents against the fly. The LD 50 in 24 h topical application of seed extracts of G. simplicifolia and root extracts of Z. xanthoxyloides were 0.28 and 0.35 μg, respectively. Seed extracts of G. simplicifolia evoked a very strong regulatory effect against the second larval instar of the housefly. The RD50 of crude extracts of G. simplicifolia and Z. xanthoxyloides against housefly ranged from 1.0 to 6.8 and 1.3 to 1.7 μg cm-2, respectively. Extracts of the two plant species may be useful as insecticides for controlling the housefly and should be exploited as a component of integrated vector control strategies or could be useful in the search of new larvicidal natural compounds. © 2008 Academic Journals.