Project No. : AS-06/2006-07
Year. : 2006-07
Project Title: Formulation of mosquito repellant & larvicidal biopesticide from certain ethno medicinal plants of N.E. India
State: Assam
Theme: Exploration/evaluation/ plant variety /conservation
Plant species: Abrus precatorius , Acorus calamus , Azadirachta indica , Caryota urens , Cascabela thevetia , Crinum asiaticum , Croton tiglium , Cymbopogon flexuosus , Cymbopogon winterianus , Datura metel , Datura stramonium , Jatropha curcas , Lantana camara , Litsea cubeba , Ocimum americanum , Ocimum basilicum , Pogostemon parviflorus , Pongamia pinnata , Ricinus communis , Sida cordifolia , Solanum indicum , Solanum khasianum , Solanum nigrum , Solanum torvum , Solanum xanthocarpum , Spilanthes acmella , Spondias pinnata , Toddalia asiatica , Zanthoxylum budrunga , Zanthoxylum oxyphyllum
Principal Investigator & Organization : Dr. M.C. Kallita, Department of Biotecnology, Gauhati University, Guwahati - 781 014
Status: Closed
Summary of Project / Major Outcome /Achievements : A survey of North-East Indian Region for traditionally used phytopesticidal plants was conducted and found that 30 plant species were having larvicidal potential out of which 10 of the species exhibiting potent mosquitocidal activities against two targeted mosquito species, with their aqueous & solvent extracts were studied. Essential oil of Zanthoxylum oxyphyllum exhibited highest repellent activity & leaf extract of Pongamia pinnata should potential ovicidal activity, whereas its seed oil had the highest effect. Based on this incense sticks and mosquito repellent gel were also developed. Preliminary larvicidal screening were done in all the species collected during these 3 years of time. Among these plant species, 30 species were reported having larvicidal potential to a level based on screening undertaken with aqueous and solvent extracts. The Pongamia pinnata, Zanthoxylum oxphyllum, Ricinus communis, P. parviflorus, Z.budrunga, Croton tiglium, C. flexuosus, Azadirachta indica, Acorus calamus and Toddalia asclaticam are among the few plants exhibit potent mosquitocidal activity. The NE region as endowed with very rich biodiversity of medicinal plants; it is the need of the hour to address the issue coupling with proper infrastructure and sophisticated analytical facilities necessary for exploring natural products. Our past experiences reveal that it is not that possible to develop plant based pharmaceutical products of commercial interest within a span of three years. Only we have been able to focus on a few ethno plant of the region as mentioned having exceptional repellency and larvicidal efficacy against mosquitoes. More research is quite necessary to develop the antimosquitocidal drug molecule form those plants so as to explore product of pharmaceutical importance and commercial application.
