Insecticidal Activities of Leaf Methanol Extract of Clerodendrum polycephalum Baker against Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus

Aim: In a view to determining the capacity of Clerodendrum polycephalum to control mosquitoes, the methanol extract of the leaf was investigated for insecticidal activities using three species of mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus. Methodology: The leaves of C. polycephalum were collected, dried and extracted with methanol. Mosquito larvae were exposed to different concentrations for 24/48h. and sublethal concentrations (L25, 50, 75) of the extract to determine larvicidal activity and monitor growth and development respectively. Twenty (20) blood-fed female Aedes aegyti mosquitoes were allowed to lay eggs on treated filter papers for antioviposition bioassay. The crude extract was separated into N-hexane, Dichloromethane, ethyl-acetate, ethanol fractions using Vacuum Liquid Chromatography to determine the active fraction. Results: Results showed that larval mortalities were in the order C. quiquefasciatus>A. gambiae>A. aegypti with effective concentration ranging from 250 – 8000 ppm. Mortalities at 48hr were significantly different (p<0.05) from mortalities at 24h. Of the four fractions obtained, ethanol fraction gave the highest larval mortality of 100% at 2000 ppm. Larval duration for all the three species of mosquitoes exposed to the crude extract varied between 2.25±0.5 and 3.25±0.5 days. As Antioviposition Index increased from 46.4 - 89.9, percent hatching of mosquito eggs deceased from 87.25 – 67.5% with increasing concentration. Conclusion: The extract of C. polycephalum was found to contain insecticidal compounds which are soluble in polar solvent. The plant could be exploited in mosquito control programme.

Taxonomic Insights and Its Type Cyclization Correlation of VolaTile Sesquiterpenes in Vitex Species and Potential Source Insecticidal Compounds: A Review

Sesquiterpenes (SS) are secondary metabolites formed by the bonding of 3 isoprene (C5) units. They play an important role in the defense and signaling of plants to adapt to the environment, face stress, and communicate with the outside world, and their evolutionary history is closely related to their physiological functions. This review considers their presence and extensively summarizes the 156 sesquiterpenes identified in Vitex taxa, emphasizing those with higher concentrations and frequency among species and correlating with the insecticidal activities and defensive responses reported in the literature. In addition, we classify the SS based on their chemical structures and addresses cyclization in biosynthetic origin. Most relevant sesquiterpenes of the Vitex genus are derived from the germacredienyl cation mainly via bicyclogermacrene and germacrene C, giving rise to aromadrendanes, a skeleton with the highest number of representative compounds in this genus, and 6,9-guaiadiene, respectively, indicating the production of 1.10-cyclizing sesquiterpene synthases. These enzymes can play an important role in the chemosystematics of the genus from their corresponding routes and cyclizations, constituting a new approach to chemotaxonomy. In conclusion, this review is a compilation of detailed information on the profile of sesquiterpene in the Vitex genus and, thus, points to new unexplored horizons for future research.

Synthesis and Antifungal and Insecticidal Activities of Novel N-Phenylbenzamide Derivatives Bearing a Trifluoromethylpyrimidine Moiety

Seventeen novel N-phenylbenzamide derivatives bearing a trifluoromethylpyrimidine moiety were synthesized via four-step reactions. Their antifungal and insecticidal properties were evaluated. Antifungal test results demonstrated that some of the synthesized compounds showed better in vitro bioactivities against Phomopsis sp., Botryosphaeria dothidea (B. dothidea), and Botrytis cinerea (B. cinerea) at 50 μg/mL than pyrimethanil. Unfortunately, the synthesized compounds revealed lower insecticidal activities against Spodoptera frugiperda (S. frugiperda) and Mythimna separata (M. separata) at 500 μg/mL than chlorantraniliprole.