Biochemical studies on some Plant extracts as pesticides

Abstract

This work was carried out to study the pesticidal activity of some· plant extracts and biochemical studies of azadirachtin as the main active ingredient in neem tree (Azadirachta indica) and its formulation (nemix) 4.5 % azadirachtin on liver functions, kidney function, haematology and histopathology of male albino rats. (1) Plant extracts as pesticides: - Lemon grass Cymbopogon citratus essential oil and ethanol, ethyl acetate and hexane leaf extracts or roots extracts from Rheum ofif cinale rhubarb were tested against plant pathogenic fungi, bacteria, molluscs and insects. (a) Fungicidal activity: - Plant extracts of C. citratus and R. ofif cinale were extracted by organic solvents. Essential oil of C. citratus and two major components of essential oil (Citral, Myrcene) were tested against two plant pathogenic fungi Fusaruim oxysporium and Rhizoctonia solanic. The inhibition achieved 100 % at 10 % citral and essential oil concentrate on the other hand the ethanol extract in both C. citratus and R. ofif cinale have high effect than other solvent extracts. The inhibition achieved 26.44 - 33.78 % with C. citratus ethanol extract on Fusaruim oxysporium and Rhizoctonia solani respectively while the inhibition achieved 30.06 -- 30.6 % with R. officinale ethanol extract on F. oxysporium and R. solani respectively.