Insecticidal Activity of Essential Oils Obtained from Piper nigrum and Psoralea corylifolia Seeds against Agricultural Pests

 

Monika Gupta¹, Aditi Gupta¹ and Sudhakar Gupta²

¹Department of Chemistry, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara (144402), Punjab, India

²Department of Zoology, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara (144402), Punjab, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: gaditi74@yahoo.com

 

The insecticidal activity of essential oils obtained from methanol extracts of Piper nigrum L. (Piperaceae) and Psoralea corylifolia (Fabaceae) against Epilachna insect and Mustard aphids (Lipaphis erysimi) was investigated in a series of laboratory experiments. Insecticidal activity was determined at 25 ± 4⁰C and 70 ± 5% R.H., in dark conditions. The methanol extracts of the dried seeds of the plants were subjected to hydrodistillation using a Clevenger type apparatus. The major components in these essential oils are identified using GC-MS spectroscopy and their insecticidal activity was tested. The predominant components in the oil of Piper nigrum are Methyl benzene, delta- elemene, alpha- copane, caryophyllene, alpha caryophyllene, beta bisabolene and delta cadinene where as the predominant components in the oil of Psoralea corylifolia are toluene, alpha-pinene, L-beta-pinene, beta-pinene, 3-carene, limonene, Gamma terpinene, terpinolene, alpha santolina alcohol, 4-terpineol, Cyclohexene, 1-methyl-4-(1-methyl ethenyl), caryophyllene, alpha caryophyllene, thumbergene. The mortality rate of the agricultural pests was checked against 1%, 5% and 10% conc. of essential oil. The essential oil from Psoralea corylifolia and Piper nigrum shows strong toxic effect against Epilachna insect where as that from Psoralea corylifolia and Piper nigrum were significantly less effective against Mustard aphids (Lipaphis erysimi). Finding insecticidal activity is of great importance as using plant extracts as insecticides, are biodegrable and do not leave toxic residues.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Piper nigrum is a perennial herb showing prominent effects in therapeutics [1]. Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) “The King of spices” contributes its major share in Indian Spice Export scenario [2]. It is known that Piper nigrum has biological activity such as CNS depressant, antioxidant, radical scavenging, antibacterial, allelopathy, anticonvulsant, anti pyretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant [3-6].

 

Psoralea corylifolia L. is an important medicinal plant found in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It was found to synthesize diverse phenyl propanoids such as furanocoumarins, isoflavonoids etc [7-8]. These compounds are mainly used to cure leucoderma, leprosy, psoriasis and inflammatory diseases of skin [9]. The review reveals that it possess important activities like antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antitumour, hepatoprotective, antioxidant and antihelminthic [10].

 

The insecticidal activity is due to the presence of secondary metabolites. Thus the objective of the present study is to find out the insecticidal activity of essential oils against crop pests.

 

The herbal drugs have been used throughout the world have received greater attention in recent times, because of its diversity of curing diseases safety and well tolerated remedies compared to the conventional medicines. A rational approach is being developed to use medicinal plants as an insecticide. The insecticidal activity is due to the presence of active molecules [11].

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Collection and Identification: The seeds of the plant Psoralea corylifolia and Piper nigrum were purchased from an authentic seed shop of Jammu District and Identified by Dr. Rajesh Manhas of University of Jammu, India.

 

Extraction: The seeds were dried on laboratory benches at room temperature for seven days, crushed, soxhlated with methanol to get crude extract which is than hydro distilled with Clevenger type apparatus to get essential oil. The essential oil obtained from both the plants was than stored in airtight glassware in refrigerator at 4⁰C until being used in the treatment [12].

 

GC-MS Analysis of Extracted Oil:

The oils were analyzed by using Varian 4000 GC-MS. The instrument operates at the following conditions: equipped with fused silica 30m (CP-Sil-8,Varian) capillary column with an internal diameter of 0.25 mm and a film thickness of 0.25µm, the Helium carrier gas had a delivery rate of 1 ml/min, a capillary injector operating at 280°C in the split mode (1:150), flame ionization detector (FID) running at 300°C, the column oven temperature programming was 50°C for 5 min and then increased from 50 to 250°C at the rate of 3°C/min and hold for 7 min. 

 

Insecticidal Testing:

The essential oils obtained were dissolved in distilled water at three different concentrations (1 %v/v, 5 % v/v, 10 % v/v).

 

i       Insect Assayed:

The Epilachna insect and Mustard aphids (Lipaphis erysimi) were collected from the fields and identified by Entomologist Dr. Sudhakar Gupta of Zoology Department of Lovely Professional University.

ii      Determination of Insecticidal Activity by Contact toxicity assay:

The Wheat leaves (for Epilachna insect) and Mustard leaves (for Mustard aphids) are taken from the field, washed, and dried and then insects were allowed to feed on them under controlled conditions of temperature and humidity. These washed and dried leaves are then dipped in the respective percentage of essential oils (i.e. 1%, 5%, 10% v/v) for two hours and then six insects are allowed to feed on these leaves in each jar and mortality rate of the insects was checked. Results were recorded by counting the number of survivals in each jar. Control dishes with methanol, distilled water and without solvent were performed separately up to 72 hours. Mortality was assessed after 3, 4, 7 and 12 h of the treatment. The calculation of mortality rate was corrected for control mortality according to Abbott’s formula [13]:

 

Mc = (Mo-Mc/100-Me) * 100

 

Where, Mo = Observed mortality rate of treated adults (%), Me = mortality rate of control (%), and Mc = corrected mortality rate (%)

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

As the plant extracts are used as insecticides, these are mostly ecofriendly and therefore the insecticidal activity of essential oils from methanol extracts of Psoralea corylifolia and Piper nigrum were checked against Epilachna insect and Mustard Aphids (Lipaphis erysimi). Controlled experiments have demonstrated no toxicity against the insects.  The results are mentioned below:

 

 

Fig 1: Results of GC-MS Analysis of essential oil of Psoralea corylifolia

 

Fig1 Showing various components in essential oil of methanol extract of Psoralea corylifolia

 

Fig 2: Results of GC-MS Analysis of essential oil of Piper nigrum

 

Fig2 Showing various components in essential oil of methanol extract of Piper nigrum

 

Fig 3: Collection of Epilachna sp. and Mustard aphids (Lipaphis erysimi) in the jar from the fields.

 

TABLE 1: Toxicity of Psoralea corylifolia and Piper nigrum essential oils on Agricultural insects

S. NO.	Plant	Insect	% of Extract (v/v)	No. of Insects used	No. of insects Dead (hours)				Total No. of insects dead	% of average mortality	% Corrected Mortality
					3h	4h	7h	12h
1.	Psoralea corylifolia	Epilachna sp.	1 %	10	-	-	8	10	10	100	100
			5 %	10	6	10	10	10	10	100	100
			10 %	10	10	10	10	10	10	100	100
2.	Psoralea corylifolia	Mustard Aphids	1 %	10	-	-	4	6	6	60	60
			5 %	10	-	-	5	7	7	70	70
			10 %	10	-	7	8	8	8	80	80
3.	Piper nigrum	Epilachna sp.	1 %	10	-	-	-	4	4	40	40
			5 %	10	-	-	8	10	10	100	100
			10 %	10	-	9	10	10	10	100	100
4.	Piper nigrum	Mustard Aphids	1 %	10	-	-	1	3	3	30	30
			5 %	10	-	-	4	5	5	50	50
			10 %	10	-	-	5	7	7	70	70

 

CONCLUSIONS:

Controlled experiments have demonstrated no toxicity against the insects. The essential oil from Psoralea corylifolia and Piper nigrum shows strong toxic effect against Epilachna sp. whereas the essential oil from Psoralea corylifolia and Piper nigrum were significantly less effective against mustard aphids (Lipaphis erysimi).

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

The authors are grateful to Dr. Ravikant Khajuria of IIIM Jammu for GC-MS Analysis, Dr. Rajesh Manhas of University of Jammu for identification and LPU for its Lab facilities.

 

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Received on 11.03.2013       Modified on 26.03.2013

Accepted on 29.03.2013      © AJRC All right reserved