World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

INSECTICIDAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF PLANT BASED POWDERS AGAINST MAIZE WEEVIL (SITOPHILUS ZEAMAIS)

Ogundari A. A., Otitoju L. K.* and Ajatta M. A.

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the insecticidal activities of different concentrations of the powder and oil extract of Piptadeniastrum africanum against Sitophilus zeamais in stored grains. Adult S. zeamais was introduced into the container with the treated maize seeds. Weevils were exposed to contact and fumigant toxicity test at 0.5g, 1.0g, 1.5g, 2.0g and 2.5g/ 100g of maize grains and mortality was assessed at exposure period of 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours post- treatment. Results obtained show that weevils exposed to oil extract of P. africanum showed higher mortality value of (52-100%) at 2.5g concentration and exposure period of 72 hours while that of root powder of P. africanum showed mortality value of (48-100%) at 2.5g concentration and exposure period of 96 hours. Both the powder of P. africanum and its oil extracts significantly reduced adult emergence in treated grains. Furthermore, the powder and oil extract of P. africanum root bark tested on the liver and kidney of albino rat were found to be non-toxic, since there was not significant difference between the control and the animal treated with the powder and the oil extracts. This study showed that the powder and oil extract of P. africanum would provide alternative to synthetic insecticides in the management of S. zeamais infesting maize grains in Nigeria.

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