ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Termiticidal and Protozocidal Potentials of Eight
Tropical Plant Extracts Evaluated Against
Odontotermes obesus Rambur (Blattodea;
Termitidae) and Heterotermes indicola Wasmann
(Blattodea; Rhinotermitidae)
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Biological Science, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
2
Department of Plant Production and Protection, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine,
Qassim University, Saudi Arabia
3
Deanship of Educational Services, Science Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia
Submission date: 2019-07-24
Final revision date: 2020-01-03
Acceptance date: 2020-01-04
Online publication date: 2020-04-22
Publication date: 2020-06-08
Corresponding author
Naveeda Akhtar Qureshi
Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-iAzam University Islamabad, Dept. of Animal Sciences Faculty of Biological Sci, 46000, Islamabad, Pakistan
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(5):3493-3507
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The subterranean termites Odontotermes obesus and Heterotermes indicola are highly infesting
wood pests that cause economic losses that cost billions of dollars throughout the world – especially
in tropical and subtropical regions. It is highly significant to formulate insecticides from plant-based
chemicals rather than synthetic ones. The eight plant species resistant to termites were selected for
screening as anti-termite phytochemicals. Extracts from different parts of the plants were collected
by using ethanol solvents in different ratios. These extracts were evaluated for their toxicity against
termites and their gut flagellates at subsequent concentrations in the range of 100-2000 ppm to find LC50.
Although the plants tested were found to be effective, extract from Grevillea robusta showed maximum
mortality and reduced termite survival rate to 94% (LC50 = 1391.01) and 90% (LC50 = 1607.95) of
O. obesus and H. indicola respectively. This extract also reduced the survival rate of hindgut flagellates
of H. indicola up to 95% with an LC50 value of 502.64 ppm. The extract of Grevillea robusta was
characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR and GC-MS analysis. Two absorption peaks were recorded
by UV-Vis spectroscopy at 208.94 and 282.97nm having absorption of 2.33 and 0.811 respectively.
FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of amines, alcohols, alkanes, nitriles, aldehydes, ether and halo
compounds. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 15 phytochemicals with a high percentage of
Coumarin (30.64%), 7-hydroxy, Methyl hexofuranoside (27.63%) and 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid
(Z,Z,Z) (8.97%). The natural phytochemicals from G. robusta having termiticidal and protozocidal
potential being eco-friendly can replace synthetic pesticides for termite control.