Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2023; 11(6): 95-98

E-ISSN: 2320-7078
P-ISSN: 2349-6800
www.entomoljournal.com
Bioefficacy of Nerium oleander leaf extract on the
JEZS 2023; 11(6): 95-98 growth of Heliothis armigera H. (Lepidoptera:
© 2023 JEZS
Received: 11-08-2023 Noctuidae)
Accepted: 21-09-2023

Dr. Chetankumar Sharma

Assistant Professor, Department
Dr. Chetankumar Sharma, Dr. Nilesh Jawalkar, Dr. Geeta Patil and Dr.
of Zoology, Arts, Commerce and DP Jaiswal
Science College, Bodwad,
Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/j.ento.2023.v11.i6b.9263
Dr. Nilesh Jawalkar Abstract
Department of Zoology, MSPM’s The current study evaluated the effect of various solvents extract from Nerium oleander leaves on
Deogiri College, Chhatrapati
developing stages in Heliothis armigera. To study the reproductive aspects of Heliothis armigera, leaf
Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra,
extract of Nerium oleander was prepared in chloroform and methanol solvents. After 24 and 96 hours of
India
treatment, both chloroform and methanol extract were interrupt their life cycle and the notable changes
Dr. Geeta Patil
had been observed such as increased mortality and emergence of adults were decreased.
Department of Botany, Arts,
Commerce and Science College, Keywords: Nerium oleander, Heliothis armigera, chloroform, methanol, mortality, antifeedant, etc.
Bodwad, Dist. Jalgaon,
Maharashtra, India Introduction
There are three species of Heliothis are occurs i.e. Heliothis armigera, H. assulta and H.
Dr. DP Jaiswal peltigera. Out of these H. armigera is the most destructive species and relatively having less
Department of Zoology, ACS economic importance. This insect, which is global and polyphagous, seriously harms
College, Navapur, Maharashtra,
India
cultivated crops in India, including cotton, tomatoes, chickpeas, pigeon peas, maize, and
sorghum, etc. H. armigera populations are able to grow constantly throughout the cropping
season because of their capacity to feed on a variety of plants and take advantage of a
succession of hosts. (Bhatnagar et al., 1982; Nyambo, 1988) [1, 2]. It is available in several
Indian states, including Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, New Delhi, Orissa, Punjab,
Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and others. It
feeds on more than 170 species of plants belonging to 41 families most notably in cotton
(King, 1994) [3]. H. armigera causes an estimated 2,000 crores in losses to India each year
(Ignacimuthu and Jayaraj, 2003) [4].
In warm climates around the world, Nerium oleander is a common decorative plant that is
grown. It grows in tropical and subtropical regions. It has been demonstrated to be harmful to
both humans and animals when used in medicine (Al-Yahya et al., 2000; Langford and Boor,
1996) [5, 6]. It possesses antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive properties
(Mostaqul et al., 1999) [7] (Erdemoglu et al., 2003) [8]. According to reports, N. oleander has a
very high level of toxicity, and in certain situations, ingesting even a small amount can have
fatal or severely dangerous effects (Goetz et al., 1998) [9]. Chemical insecticides are mostly
employed to shield crops from infestations of H. armigera. The issue of chemical resistance
has not improved in recent years, as seen by the 20-30% crop loss attributed to pests in India
(Bhargava et al., 2008) [10] and causing widespread hardship especially amongst poor farmers.

Materials and Methods

The H. armigera larvae were collected from fields of tur (Cajanus cajan), tomato
(Lycopersicon esculentum), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), and other plants. To prevent
cannibalism, each larva was raised in a separate plastic bottle with an artificial feed that was
Corresponding Author:
changed every day in accordance with the Central Institute for Cotton Research's standard
Dr. Chetankumar Sharma
Assistant Professor, Department protocol (CICR). Nerium oleander leaves that were still green were picked from the field,
of Zoology, Arts, Commerce and dried in the shade, and oven. After being crushed into a powder in a grinder, the dried leaves
Science College, Bodwad, were sealed in plastic bags for storage. The powder had been wrapped in filter paper, and
District- Jalgaon, Maharashtra, Soxhlet's apparatus was used to do extractions using a 1:10 ratio of methanol and chloroform
India solvents.

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Following eight hours of nonstop extraction, the finished partially but the emergence was reduced in both solvents.
extract was allowed to evaporate the solvent and refrigerated Thus even at low concentration of the doses, the extracts of N.
at 4 ºC until needed. To prepare different concentrations, the oleander has property to reduce the growth of the population
artificial diet was prepared and incorporated into each extract of H. armigera. The observed data were represented in Fig. 1
before being put into the vials. To prevent cannibalism, 10 and 2.
vials with varying concentrations of each extract were made.
Meanwhile, in a separate experimental set, each vial Discussion
containing food without extract was let to grow as a control. Today's agricultural output relies on chemical pesticides that
To find the growth of the life cycle stages of H. armigera, are sold commercially to fight a wide range of weeds, insects,
concentrations of the extracts were prepared in food so as to fungi, and other agricultural pests. Certain pesticides are
get 2 ml/Kg, 4 ml/Kg, 6 ml/Kg and 8 ml/Kg of food and thought to be either immediately or chronically hazardous to
observations were made with respect to the effect of extract humans and other environmental components, and they may
on duration of the development and on their morphological also seriously endanger the health of non-target creatures and
characters till the emergence of the adults. species. These potentially hazardous substances, which are
made to resemble synthetic pesticides, must be substituted by
Observation and Results using plant-based products. Certain plants have been found to
Increased time intervals are required to reach a satisfactory provide an adequate defense against store grain pests,
death rate. The results of this investigation support past including M. piperita, A. calamus (sweet flag), P. nigrum
findings that the majority of plant extracts contain insecticide (black pepper), P. pinnata (pongam), and A. indica (neem).
characteristics and suppress pests by altering their biological As novel formulations are developed for the control of
processes (Tinzaara et al., 2006) [11]. Locusts, Gypsy moths, Cockroaches, and other insects, neem
High toxicity of N. oleander leaf extract is observed against has garnered attention on a global scale. In recent years, there
H. armigera larvae. When the concentration was increased has been an increased focus on these plant resources. These
from 2 to 8 ml/Kg and the exposure times were 24 and 96 plant-based compounds include insecticides, ovicides,
hours, the mortality rate significantly increased. antifeedents and attractants, among other qualities.
In control, the egg hatched in about four days and the larvae (Muruganm et al., 1998) [12]. Majority of insects have
passed through six instars in an average 19.87±1.12 days and particular semiochemicals.
pupation in 15.12±0.83 days. Also it seems that, the larvae According to Sundarajan (2002) [13], the methanol extract of
were active and voracious feeders on the artificial diet which Vitex negundo caused the greatest mortality in H. armigera,
results 100% emergence of the adults from the pupae. measuring 82.5% at a 2% concentration. In comparison to
Table No. 1 shows the effect of leaf extract of Nerium Catharanthus roseus (Sadaphuli) and Nerium oleander
oleander extracted in 2 solvents i.e. chloroform and methanol (Kaner), Annona squamosa (Sitaphal) seed extract at 1.5%
on the larvae and pupae. At the lowest concentration 2.0 concentration showed the highest mortality (43.33%) in H.
ml/Kg the larvae were repelled in methanol solvent while armigera (Sonkamble et al., 2000) [14].
antifeedant activity was observed in chloroform. There was In the laboratory trial (Kulkarni, 2002; Yankanchi, 2003) [15,
16]
slight decrease in the duration of larval and pupal period as , the extracts of V. negundo, C. inerme, L. camara, and E.
compared to control. In 4.0 ml/Kg concentration extract in odoratum exhibited substantial mortality against A. janata, P.
chloroform the anti-feedency was observed in larvae which xylostella, and S. litura larvae. Plant-synthesized secondary
resulted in 70% mortality and larval period lasted for organic compounds play a crucial function in shielding plants
17.33±1.52 and pupal period 15.50±0.70 days. In methanol against insect pests. These substances can function as
solvent repellency was observed in larvae which resulted in antifeedants and are poisonous, delaying the growth of larvae
40% mortality, while larval period lasted for 19.50±1.22 days in insects (Isman, 2006) [17].
and pupal period 16.75±0.95 days. Complete antifeedency The protection of the environment against pesticides is now a
resulted at 6.0 ml/Kg concentration of chloroform extract top priority. It is not necessary for an insecticide to kill a lot
leading to 100% mortality with repellent action. 40% larval of the target species in order for it to be considered safe. Thus,
mortality was observed in methanol extract and larval period growth-inhibiting and antifeedant properties can be added to
lasted for 20.40±1.51 and pupal period 17.20±0.81 days. In other insect control methods as part of the integrated pest
8.0 ml/Kg concentration antifeedency noted and 70% management (IPM) strategy. Clarifying a chemical's method
mortality in methanol extract was observed. The larval period of action is crucial for insect control because it may provide
lasted for 21.25±1.73 days and pupal period were 18.50±0.70 important guidance on the proper varieties of formulations.
days. The survived larvae in all cases pupated completely or

Table 1: Efficacy of Nerium oleander leaf extract in chloroform and methanol solvents against the developing stages of Heliothis armigera.
Solvent Dose (ml/Kg) Mortality of larvae % Average Average Pupal Period in days Emergence of adults % Activity
Control - 19.87±1.12 15.12±0.83 100 Actively Feeding
2.0 60 16.66±1.15 14.33±0.57 30 Antifeedant
Chloroform 4.0 70 17.33±1.52 15.50±0.70 20 Antifeedant
6.0 100 Antifeedant
8.0 100 Antifeedant
Control - 19.87±1.12 15.12±0.83 100 Actively Feeding
2.0 20 18.37±1.30 15.20±0.83 50 Repellent
Methanol 4.0 40 19.50±1.22 16.75±0.95 40 Repellent
6.0 40 20.40±1.51 17.20±0.81 40 Repellent
8.0 70 21.25±1.73 18.50±0.70 20 Antifeedant

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Fig 1: Efficacy of leaf extract of Nerium oleander in chloroform against larval and pupal period of Heliothis armigera

Fig 2: Efficacy of leaf extract of Nerium oleander in methanol against larval and pupal period of Heliothis armigera

Plate 1A: Rearing of Heliothis armigera larvae on artificial diet in laboratory

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Plate 1B: Experimental Setup

Conclusion 9. Goetz RJ, Jordan TN, McCain JW, Su NY. Indiana plants
As a consequence of this assay, leaf extracts of N. oleander in poisonous to livestock and pets. Cooperative Extension
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of insecticidal activity, prolonged larval and pupal duration, 11.
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adults from pupae of H. armigera. The growth disruption engineering of plants for insect resistance. In:
affects the inability of some of the larvae to successfully Entomology: Novel Approaches, New India Publishing,
moult into the pupal stage or some of the pupae into the adult New Delhi, India; c2008. p. 133-144.
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substitute for the chemical treatments. Kashaija I. The potential of using botanical insecticides
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Acknowledgement sordidus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). African Journal of
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Bodwad for his unwavering support and encouragement, as 12. Murugan K, Raja NS, Jeyabalan D, Kumar NS,
well as the Department of Zoology at Dr. Babasaheb Sivaramakrishnan S. Evaluation of certain tropical plant
Ambedkar Marathwada University, Chhatrapati extracts for their antifeedant and toxic properties against
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