Antifeedant activity and phytochemical investigation of Millettia pachycarpa extracts against Tobacco Leaf Eating Caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

- The effect of Millettia pachycarpa leaf extracts on behavior of tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura was investigated.
- Polar fractions from leaf extract were obtained from Millettia pachycarpa.
- Phytochemical investigation of the extract was also done to identify different compounds by column chromatography and LC-MS.
- The extracts have potential use in organic farming to control S. litura.

This study was aimed to evaluate the antifeedant activity of leaf extracts on third instar larvae of Tobacco Leaf Eating Caterpillar (Spodoptera litura) and bioassay guided isolation of pure compounds from Millettia pachycarpa. Plant material was extracted with two different solvents; hexane and methanol. Methanol extract was found to be active as compared to hexane extract against S. litura after 48 h and was sequentially further partitioned between hexane, dichloromethane and butanol. DCM fraction was further subjected to column chromatography from which five fractions were obtained. Among different CC fractions, fraction 2 (FR 2) showed highest activity (AI50 227.12 ppm) and pure compound, lupeol, was isolated. Antifeedant activity results show that activity was comparable to natural plant based insecticide azadirachtin and this plant can be further explored for its use as natural pesticide.

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